Polling for 4th phase Panchayat polls begins in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The fourth and penultimate phase Panchayat polls began in Odisha this morning amid tight security in 28 districts.

Barring Jharsuguda and Boudh districts, polling would be conducted in the remaining 28 districts.

“A total of 50,61,974people would exercise their franchise for the election of 1324 Panchayat Samiti members and 18,876 Ward Members in 162 Zilla Parishad (ZP) zones.

Sources in the State Election Commission (SEC) said out of 162 ZP members, polling would be held for 161 ZP members following the death of Kailash Sahu, an Independent candidate of Gania zone number-8 in Nayagarh district. Election will be held for Panchayat Samiti members and Ward Members in this zone.

Elaborate security measures are being taken at the sensitive booths in 28 districts with adequate deployment of security personnel. Besides, extra security measures have been taken in the Maoist infested districts.

To ensure no threat to the polling parties, SEC has directed the district superintendents of police to provide armed police force to accompany each polling party for their arrival at their respective booths.