News from Odisha

BJD's MLA candidate for Khallikote, Suryamani Vaidya, faced stiff opposition from local residents during her campaign in various panchayats. Villagers accused her of neglecting development and failing to fulfill promises made in the 2019 election.

In Bhubaneswar, 'Operation White Spider' of the Commissionerate Police has resulted in the arrest of 80 individuals involved in drug trafficking. From January to April, significant quantities of narcotics like brown sugar and ganja were seized, alongside cash and vehicles.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma took a swipe at Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik at the Prabuddh Nagarik Sammelan in Bhubaneswar.

BJD has promised free electricity to 90% of families in Odisha, drawing skepticism about its feasibility. Critics label it a political ploy, noting discrepancies in the number of beneficiaries and questioning the practicality of such a scheme based on current consumption patterns.

Commissionerate Police warns people against cyber criminals' new tactic during election season.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had earlier fielded BJD turncoat Raju Das from the Soro Assembly seat.

Padma Shri awardee and famous Sambalpuri singer Jitendriya Haripal underwent surgery for a urinary and hernia issue. He's recovering well post-operation, with all vitals stable. Haripal gained fame from the hit song 'Rangabati' in the 1970s.

Officials from the Income Tax Department seized 'approximately Rs 5 crore in cash' from an SUV in Bhubaneswar. The vehicle belongs to contractor Nihar Ranjan Mandhata from Jajpur. The funds' legitimacy is under scrutiny, and the owner has seven days to prove its legality.

BJP National Vice-President, Jay Panda, refuted BJD's remarks about his health and criticized a Tamil puppeteer for not fully understanding Odia, which led to misconceptions about statements regarding the CM's health. He highlighted concerns over non-Odia control and misuse of AI-generated deepfake videos.

Ranendra Pratap Swain, BJD's candidate for the Athagarh Assembly, stated the viral photo showing him blessed by VK Pandian as a morphed one.

The Orissa High Court has announced the recruitment of Assistant Section Officers (ASO). The application period is from May 20 to June 18, 2024.

The India Meteorological Department predicts a rise in temperatures across Odisha following recent relief from heat due to thunderstorms. Despite stable temperatures for two days, a 2-4°C increase is expected soon.

The independent MLA candidate has been booked on attempt to murder charges and has been sent to judicial custody after the rejection of his bail petition.

The second phase of the Odisha Assembly Elections 2024 features 95 crorepati candidates among 265 contestants. With the highest assets, BJP's Dilip Ray leads, followed by BJD's Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo and CM Naveen Patnaik. The average asset per candidate is Rs 3.98 crore.

The first phase of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha ended peacefully with a 73.97% voter turnout. BJP's Vijaypal Singh Tomar claims the party will win all four Lok Sabha and 18 of the 28 Assembly seats contested, predicting a clear majority and government formation.