Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar: The first phase panchayat polls which began in Odisha this morning, witnessed poll boycott in nine Gram Panchayats in eight districts.

In Khurda district, villagers of Daruthenga panchayat on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar boycotted the elections demanding shifting of the dump yard. The villagers did not turn up for voting at 13 booths in Zone number 28. While three candidates are contesting for Zilla Parishad at Zone number 28, no one has filed nominations for the posts of Sarpanch, Samiti Member and Ward Member.

Voting was boycotted at 10 booths including four of Dokada and six of Balijhari panchayat under Narasinghpur block in Cuttack district.

In Balasore district, there was no polling in nine booths in Kachuadi panchayat of Bhograi block as the voters did not turn up following a dispute over the panchayat headquarters.

In another incident, villagers of Badakana under Bhamili panchayat of Umerkote block in Nabarangpur district boycotted the polling in protest against shifting of booth from their village to another place.

Protesting against unavailability of basic amenities voting was boycotted by villagers of K.Balipal panchayat under Hatadihi block in Keonjhar district. Irate villagers did not allow polling officer to enter into polling booths at nine places and staged a road blockade.

Demanding to stay in Paliabindha panchayat, residents of Ward no. 19 in Tihidi Achak panchayat in Bhadrak district boycotted polling.

In Bolangir district, people of Dandapani and Dabalpani villages under Ratakhandi panchayat in Lower Suktel submerged area boycotted polling demanding no reorganisation of panchayat.

In Kendrapara district, villagers of Guludia under Gagua panchayat in Mahakalpada block boycotted the polls in protest against non-availability of basic amenities in their village.

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