Bhubaneswar: With polling on February 16, campaigning ends on Monday evening for the first phase of the three-tier, five-phase panchayat elections in Odisha.
Poll officials on Monday left for 11 districts — Balasore, Bhadrak, Khurda, Nayagarh, Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Boudh, Rayagada and Koraput. Officials will leave for the rest 19 districts on Tuesday.
Parties have gone all out to woo voters, even roping in star campaigners. Here are some of the star campaigners during the first phase:
Varsha Priyadarshini
The actress campaigned for the BJD candidate in Brahmapur panchayat of Bhadrak block.
Asrumochan Mohanty
The Ollywood actor campaigned for Jagya Hentala, BJP’s Zilla Parishad candidate from Zone-2 of Borigumma Block in Koraput.
Kawasi Lakhan
The Chhattisgarh’s Excise Minister campaigned for the Congress candidates in Rayagada’s Kasipur and Tikiri, and in Bisamcuttack and Munniguda.
Tamanna, Poonam & Debashis
Several Ollywood actors including Tamanna, Poonam and Debashis campaigned for the BJD with local MLA Srikant Sahoo in Zilla Parishad Zone 38, 39 and 40.
