Tag: Odisha Panchayat Polls

In the video, circulating on the social media, it can be clearly seen the Sarpanch candidate and his supporters forcefully capturing the ballot box and dropping multiple ballot papers into it after stamping on their election symbol.

The nominations will be scrutinised in the next one hour while the candidates can withdraw their nominations by 1 p.m. If required, voting will be held from 1.30 to 4 p.m. and then the result will be declared.

Some miscreants were trying to capture a booth at Badal Panchayat by force during the polling. When the media persons present at the spot tried to capture the visuals of the illegal act, the miscreants turned towards them and assaulted them

Stray incidents of violence were reported from across polling booths in the State today.

As per the Odisha State Election Commission, polling at one seat for Zilla Parishad Member, six seats for the post of Sarpanch, three seats for Panchayat Samiti Member and 13 Ward Member posts have been cancelled

The identification of the miscreants and the reason behind the loot are yet to be ascertained

The villagers erected bamboo barricade at the entrance of the locality restricting entry of the polling team and shouted slogans on poll boycott.

The viral audio clip has surfaced at a time when the first phase of voting began for the three-tier Panchayat elections on Wednesday. 

Basudevpur village under Ganjam’s Digapahandi Block turned into a war zone on Monday afternoon when some armed miscreants, purportedly supporters of a Sarpanch candidate, disrupted the campaign procession of another Sarpanch candidate, Rabi Narayan Padhi before launching an attack.

State Election Commissioner Aditya Prasad Padhi on Tuesday said that as many as 67.51 lakh voters will exercise their franchise in the first phase polls.

In another incident, some miscreants allegedly attacked BJD’s Zone-24 Zilla Parishad candidate Dharnidhar Sahu while he was campaigning at Potal village under Pipili block of Puri district on Monday.

A rather peaceful state of Odisha has suddenly witnessed eruption of violence in many parts, thanks to the cut throat competition among candidates for the forthcoming Panchayat elections.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders accused the police of bending rules for the ruling BJD party. “They (police) stopped us at different points from the beginning of the rally. No one can stop us from campaigning as it is our Constitutional right to reach people,” said State BJP President Sameer Mohanty.

The panchayat elections are scheduled to be held in five phases on February 16, 18, 20, 22 and February 24, 2022.

In the first phase of election on February 16, votes will be polled at 200 zilla parishad zones in 71 blocks. Voting will be carried out at 22379 wards and 1669 panchayats across the State. As many as 67.51 lakh voters will exercise their franchise.