Women wait in a queue to cast their votes at a polling booth during the Odisha Assembly elections.
Credit: PTI Photo
The move comes after Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha’s Odisha unit president Abhilas Panda and six of his associates were allegedly attacked by workers of the ruling BJD on Thursday evening in Chandbali assembly segment under Bhadrak Lok Sabha constituency, police said.
Ahead of the last phase of polling in Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik clarified that his close confidant V K Pandian would not be his "natural successor" in the government and the party, besides asserting that his health conditions are fine to allow him to continue for another five-year term as the Chief Minister.
Around 36,000 security personnel will be deployed for the fourth and last phase of simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls in Odisha on Saturday, a senior police officer said.
A total of 126 companies of central armed police forces and 86 platoons of Odisha armed police personnel are among the 36,000 personnel.
PTI
394 candidates are competing for the 42 assembly segments.
Approximately 1 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes across 10,882 booths in the fourth and final round of simultaneous elections in the state.
BJP leader Pratap Chandra Sarangi shows his inked finger a polling booth after casting his vote in Baleswar district, Saturday, June 1, 2024.
PTI Photo
Odisha registered around 22.64 per cent voter turnout till 11 am in six Lok Sabha constituencies and 42 assembly segments where polling is underway in the last phase of simultaneous elections in the state on Saturday, officials said.
An elderly man collapsed while standing in a queue in a polling booth in Iswarpur in Nilagiri assembly segment in Balasore district. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead, they said.
One person was also injured in a group clash outside a polling booth in Gop area in Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha seat.
Voting started at 7 am in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur parliamentary constituencies along with 42 assembly segments falling under these Lok Sabha seats.
Odisha's Chief Electoral Officer N B Dhal said voting has been peaceful so far in the 10,882 polling booths, barring some reports of EVM glitches, which were mostly resolved or the machines replaced in some cases.
He said by the ECI has replaced 79 ballot units (BU), 106 control units (CU) and 233 VVPATs. The voting was smooth in all the places..
Till 11 am, around 22.64 per cent of the over 99.61 lakh voters exercised their franchise, officials said.
Balasore recorded the highest turnout of 27.66 per cent, followed by Kendrapara (24.03), Jagatsinghpur (23.01), Mayurbhanj (22.25), Bhadrak (21.50), and Jajpur (17.10), they said.
A total of 66 candidates are in the fray in the Lok Sabha seats, while 394 nominees are contesting the assembly segments in the fourth and last phase of simultaneous polls in the eastern state.
Key candidates in this phase include Odisha Assembly Speaker Pramila Mallik, Government Chief Whip Prashant Kumar Mudili, and half-a-dozen Odisha ministers Sudam Marndi, Ashwini Patra, Pritiranjan Ghadai, Atanu S Nayak, Pratap Deb and T K Behera.
PTI
One BLO (Block Level Officer), Manoranjan Sahoo (58) of booth no-157 under Binjharpur Assembly Constituency of Jajpur district died while on election duty: Collector & DEO, Nikhil Pavan Kalyan.
ANI
Odisha registered around 37.64 per cent voter turnout till 1 pm in six Lok Sabha constituencies and 42 assembly segments where polling is underway in the last phase of simultaneous elections in the state on Saturday, officials said.
Manoranjan Sahoo, an assistant teacher deputed as a booth level officer at Oleichandanapur in Jajpur district, complained of uneasiness and was taken to a local hospital where he was declared dead, they said.
Similarly, an elderly man also collapsed while standing in a queue in a polling booth in Iswarpur in Nilagiri assembly segment in Balasore district. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead, they said.
Both deaths were suspected to have been caused due to heatstroke, the officials said.
One person was also injured in a group clash outside a polling booth in Gop area in Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha seat.
PTI
Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal casts his vote in booth number 142 for the Bhandaripokhari Assembly constituency.
Credit: X/@OdishaCeo
Credit: PTI Photo
A voter turnout of 62. 46% was recorded till 5 pm.
Credit: X/@OdishaCeo
Roy alleged that the BJD workers attacked BJP polling agents with wooden sticks. Odisha BJP has also shared a video on their X (formerly Twitter) handle.
However, Cuttack DM has denied the allegations of booth capturing.