Polling for the much-awaited Odisha Urban Local Bodies (ULB) polls has begun. Over 40.55 lakh voters will cast their votes for 106 ULBs and 3 Municipal Corporations in the State. People will exercise their franchise in 1731 wards consisting of 3068 booths in 106 ULBs and in 168 wards consisting of 1407 booths in the three Municipal corporations- BMC, CMC and BeMC.
Meanwhile, the State Election Commission has made adequate security arrangements in different 'Strong Rooms' throughout the urban areas with CCTV coverage to ensure round-the-clock safety of EVMs ahead of the counting of votes on March 26.
Around 65 percent overall voter turnout has been reported from the urban areas of the State while a maximum of 65 percent voters exercised their franchise in Cuttack Municipal Corporation area, followed by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (50 PC) and Berhampur Municipal Corporation (47 PC) in the elections to the Urban Local Bodies held in Odisha today.
Odisha recorded more than 50 per cent voter turnout in the urban local bodies (ULB) elections till 5 pm, informed the State Election Commission.
As many as three BJP workers were injured in group clash in front of party’s office in Chikiti NAC in Ganjam district.
Several vehicles along with BJP leader’s car were ransacked in the clash.
Odisha recorded 45 per cent voter turnout in the urban local bodies (ULB) elections till 3 pm, informed the State Election Commission.
BJP polling agent suffered injuries in an attack by opponents at booth-9 of Ward No-7 in Pipili. He was rushed to a local hospital.
Two persons including BJD councillor candidate injured during clash between Congress and BJD workers over alleged booth rigging in Ward 14 and 15 of Jhankarpada in Bolangir.
Locals staged dharna outside 3 booths demanding to stop polling process.
Political violence hit the voting process of the ongoing urban local body (ULBs) elections in Odisha on Thursday with sporadic incidents of attacks on people being reported from separate places.
Patnagarh MLA Saroj Meher’s brother Pradeep Meher was reportedly assaulted by a group of several BJP workers for allegedly distributing money to influence voters during polling of votes at Kolpada on Thursday.
Khandapada block Vice-Chairman Sisir Sahu was attacked by miscreants outside Khandapada Women’s College booth over an alleged political rivalry.
A youth sustained critical injuries after being stabbed by miscreants outside polling booth-16 in Ward No-9 of Dhamnagar NAC following an altercation over casting of vote.
The injured youth rushed to Bhadrak DHH for treatment.
The Odisha State Election Commission (SEC) has informed that the average voter turnout in 3 Municipal Corporations of the State is 21 percent while around 32 percent of total voters have exercised their franchise in other urban local bodies till 12 pm on Thursday.
Barabati-Cuttack
Casts Vote Congress leader and Barabati-Cuttack MLA Mohammed Moquim cast his vote at booth number 91 in Ward number 14. The Barabati-Cuttack MLA urged the voters to cast their votes to elect their candidates.
32% polling recorded till 12PM, nearly 21% voter turnout recorded in 3 municipal corporations, informed State Election Commission secretary.
The voting process hasn’t stopped in any booth due to EVM glitches, he added.
Madhusmita Acharya, Congress leader and party’s mayoral candidate for Bhubaneswar, cast her vote at Government High School at IRC Village in the capital city.
“I have come here to vote with a hope of change and I am sure, people will bring the change with their votes. I appeal all the citizens to vote in large number,” said Acharya after casting her vote.
Patnagarh MLA Saroj Meher’s brother Pradip Meher reportedly thrashed by BJP workers in Kolapada for allegedly distributing cash among voters.
Congress leader and party's Mayoral candidate for Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Elections, Giribala Behera casts her vote in ward no- 4 in DAV School in the millennium city.
A total of 21 percent voters have turned out to exercise their democratic right in Odisha Municipal Elections till 11 AM on Thursday, the office of State Election Commission informed the media.
BJD leader and party's Mayoral candidate for Cuttack Municipal Elections, Subhash Singh cast his vote at a polling booth in the city. "This is a new dawn for Cuttack as voters have decided to become a part of the development agenda for the Millenium City set by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. I have never seen such outpouring support to any candidate and party in my entire life like now," Singh told reporters after casting his vote.
Around 10 percent of voters have cast their franchise in the ongoing elections to Urban Local Bodies in Odisha till 9 AM on Thursday, informed the State Election Commission office.
BJD’s mayoral candidate from Bhubaneswar, Sulochana Das reached Utkalmani Upper Primary School in Nayapalli and cast her vote. “I have exercised my democratic right to vote. I appeal all the citizens to cast their votes,” Das said after casting her vote.
BJP’s mayor candidate from Bhubaneswar, Dr Suniti Mund casts her vote at Jharapada High School in the Capital City. “I am very delighted to see people in large number reaching the polling booth to cast their votes,” Mund said after casting her.
The husband of an independent candidate has been detained for allegedly distributing cash among voters in Ward No-18 of Bhadrak Municipality. The town police have reportedly seized Rs 25000 cash from his possession.
CM Naveen Patnaik casts his vote at booth-544 at Aerodrome UP school under Ward No-53 of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC)
Malfunctioning of electronic voting machines (EVM) disrupted polling for at several booths across the State.
EVM glitches delayed start of polling at booth-10 in G.Udayagiri NAC of Gajapati district. The voting was yet to begin in the booth even after an hour of scheduled start.
Polling was delayed in booth-3 in Ward-3 of Athagarh in Cuttack district due to glitch in EVM.
Polling was delayed in booth-432 in Ward-41 of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and booth-408 in Nayapalli in the Capital City due to some glitches in the EVMs.
As voting for Urban Local Body (ULB) in Odisha began today morning, polling was temporarily halted at booth-12 of Nuapada Notified Area Council (NAC) due to some malfunctioning in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM). Over 500 voters have been reportedly waiting outside the booth to cast their votes.
The polling for the Urban Local Body (ULB) elections in Odisha began today at 8 am. People can cast their votes till 5 pm. Over 40.55 lakh people will cast their votes for 106 ULBs and three Municipal Corporations in the State. As many as 195 platoons of police force and 22,000 polling personnel have been deployed to ensure free and fair elections.
Elaborate arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of the Odisha Municipal Elections on March 24, said State Election Commissioner Aditya Prasad Padhi on Wednesday.
The schools and colleges will remain shut for two days on March 23 and 24 for the General Elections to ULBs, the district administration said in a notice.
Odisha Municipal Elections: 4 Injured In Pre-Poll Violence In Keonjhar, BJP Turns Heat On Police
Bhubaneswar Urban Elections: As the campaigning for the forthcoming Urban Local Body polls in Odisha enters the final day, candidates and their supporters are making last ditch attempt to woo voters' confidence before the big day of polling on March 24.