Bhubaneswar, April 10 (IANS) Polling began on a peaceful note for 10 Lok Sabha and 70 assembly seats in Odisha, an official said.
People stood in queues outside polling centres before polling started at 7 am.
"Everywhere balloting has started. We talked to all the district collectors and police officials and from nowhere have we got any complaints so far. It has started on a peaceful note," state's Chief Electoral Officer Mona Sharma told IANS.
Over 13 million electors will cast their ballots in the first phase of polling.
There are a total of 28,880,850 voters in the state. Polling for the remaining 11 Lok Sabha seats and 77 assembly seats would be held in the second phase April 17.
Security was tight, and paramilitary personnel and police have been deployed in vulnerable areas to ensure trouble-free polling.
Defying boycott call given by Maoists, people came to exercise their franchise in the southern districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Kalahandi and Kandhamal.
Prominent candidates in the first phase are Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and two former chief ministers and senior Congress leaders, Giridhar Gomang and Hemananda Biswal.
State Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro, former union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jual Oram, state BJP president K.V. Singh Deo, and Congress leader Narasingh Mishra are also in the fray.
Odisha saw intense campaigning by political heavyweights, including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, vice president Rahul Gandhi, BJP chief Rajnath Singh and prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has said that according to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra M
AAP to approach EC against BJP Advertisement
New Delhi, Feb 2 (IANS) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Monday said it will approach the Election Com
India should Boost Exports to China: Government
New Delhi, March 4 (IANS) Indian businessmen and industrialists should identify opportunities t
Where women take up cudgels to save forests (Environment Feature)
Keylong (Himachal Pradesh), Feb 10 (IANS) A movement that a handful of woman activists started
Russia-Ukraine war: Ukrainian MP praises PM Modi, appreciated Indian stance on war
Ukraine MP Vadim Halaichuk has praised PM Modi. He said that we are grateful for Indian PM Narend
IRCTC and Indian Railways: Keeping in mind the problems of railway passengers, Central Railway ha
New Zealand will continue playing aggressive cricket: McCullum
Melbourne, March 29 (IANS) Despite their bruising loss to Australia in the cricket World Cup fi
AAP holds National Council meet amid dissent
New Delhi, March 28 (IANS) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Council meeting began on Saturday
Maharashtra legislative council chairman loses trust vote
Mumbai, March 16 (IANS) Maharashtra legislative council chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh of the Con
Doctors are on strike in government hospitals in Delhi today in protest against the murder of a d
