New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: For the first time in its electoral history, Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha will be held simultaneously in four phases starting April 11. The 2014 elections were held in two phases.
With the announcement of the poll dates, the model code of conduct has come into force.
Addressing a press conference at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Saturday, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said election to 21 Lok Sabha constituencies and 147 assembly segments will be held on April 11, April 18, April 23 and April 29. The results will be declared on May 23.
1st Phase, April 11 – 4 Lok Sabha + 28 Assembly Seats
(Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Berhampur, Koraput)
2nd Phase, April 18 – 5 Lok Sabha + 35 Assembly Seats
(Bargarh, Sundargarh, Bolangir, Kandhamal, Aska)
3rd Phase, April 23 – 6 Lok Sabha + 42 Assembly Seats
(Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Puri, Bhubaneswar)
4th Phase, April 29 – 6 Lok Sabha + 42 Assembly Seats
(Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur)
Notification of polling will be done on March 18, while the last date of nomination is March 25. Counting of votes will be held on May 23.
In all, 37,606 polling stations will be set up in Odisha.
Asked why Odisha will have a four-phase election, Arora said Odisha is one of the Left-wing affected states and hence elections will be held under heavy force deployment. Since there are logistical issues involved in their movement, the elections will be held in four phases.
Referring to the ceiling on poll expenses, Arora said for the assembly seats, the limit will be Rs 28 lakh per candidate.
In view of the model code of conduct, chief minister’s grievance cell will remain closed from Monday till the election process is over, the CMO said.
