Bhubaneswar: Odisha recorded 6.87% voter turnout in the first two hours of polling at 9,162 booths in five Lok Sabha and 35 Assembly seats on Monday.
The overall voter turnout in 49 constituencies in six states and two Union Territories in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections as of 9 am stood at 10.28%. The highest polling was witnessed in West Bengal at 15.35% and the lowest in Maharashtra at 6.33%. Among the other states Bihar recorded 8.86 per cent turnout, Jammu and Kashmir 7.63%, Jharkhand 11.68%, Ladakh 10.51%, and Uttar Pradesh 12.89%.
The polling began at 7 am in Aska, Kandhamal, Balangir, Bargarh, and Sundargarh parliamentary constituencies, along with 35 assembly segments under these Lok Sabha seats. While 40 candidates are in the poll fray in the five Lok Sabha seats, 265 contestants are vying for 35 assembly segments.
Briefing the media, Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha, Nikunja Bihari Dhal said that voting is underway smoothly. “I am happy to see the voter turnout in urban areas like Rourkela. Over 9% and 7% turnouts were recorded at Raghunathpalli and Rourkela, respectively.”
He said that EMVs were replaced in some booths during the mock polls and also after the polling began. “Aska situation is under control. We are also aware of the intensity of political rivalry in Ghasipura area. I spoke to the DGP last evening and steps are being taken to bring the situation under control. I can assure that we have zero tolerance policy during, before and after the polls,” he said.
Dhal said that webcasting arrangements have been made at over 5,400 polling stations.
Among the prominent candidates in the second round of simultaneous elections in the state are Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is contesting from two assembly segments (Hinjili in Ganjam district and Kantabanji in Balangir district), and BJD leaders Bikram Arukha, Niranjan Pujari, P K Amat, Tukuni Sahu, Rita Sahu, and S P Nayak. Former minister and Sundargarh’s sitting MP Jual Oram, former Indian hockey captain Dilip Tirkey, former union minister and hotelier Dilip Ray, and BJP’s four-time Lok Sabha MP Sangeeta Singh De are also in the fray in this round of elections.
The BJD had won Aska and Kandhamal Lok Sabha seats in 2019, while three others had gone to the BJP.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deployed 102 companies of central armed police forces (CAPFs) for the second round of elections in Odisha. The Maoist-affected Kandhamal district has received highest allocation of 22 companies, followed by Ganjam (20). Sundargarh (16), Bargarh and Balangir (14 each), Jharsuguda and Boudh (five each), Sonepur (4), and Nayagarh (2).
About 79.69 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes at 9,162 booths located across 7,339 locations.