Voting under way in Odisha for LS, assembly polls (Lead)

Posted on 10th Apr 2014 03:34 pm by admin

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.

Other news

Congress demands PMO explain 'Snoopgate 2', BJP says non-issue

New Delhi/Hyderabad, March 15 (IANS) The Congress on Sunday demanded an explanation from the Pr

Magh Mela 2025: Traffic arrangements in Varanasi, similar to the Mahakumbh, vehicles will be stopped for 12 hours each in five police station areas.

The Commissionerate Police has implemented traffic diversions in view of the Magh Mela and the re

UNSC Meeting: Two-day UNSC anti-terrorism meeting will be held in India, these important issues will be discussed

India is set to host a two-day counter-terrorism meeting of the United Nations Security Council (

CM Yogi Oath Ceremony: Leaders from all over the country including PM Narendra Modi will attend the swearing-in of Yogi Adityanath, preparations to make the ceremony memorable

After the resounding victory of the BJP in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, preparations are

Jaishankar: 'The phase of talks with Pakistan is over', Jaishankar said amid PM Modi's invitation to the SCO summit

External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar attended a book release ceremony in Delhi. During this

Fear over Corona in Delhi, CM Arvind Kejriwal calls emergency meeting

Because of the fast-growing cases of Corona in the capital Delhi, CM Arvind Kejriwal has called a

Delhi Anti-Encroachment Drive: Kejriwal government sought report from MCD on running bulldozers, said- give data from April till date

Politics has intensified regarding the continuous action of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi ag

BJP-Congress: Why is the Modi government being 'negligent' with the Law Commission, especially regarding UCC - Congress attacks

The Congress on Tuesday said the 22nd Law Commission ended without submitting its report on the U

Finance Ministry: Preparing to end the exemption tax system, Finance Ministry will review the old tax system

The Finance Ministry is planning to review the tax regime free of exemptions or concessions. It h

Antilia explosive case: Mysteryman wearing PPE kit spotted with Scorpio in CCTV, suspected of being driver of Innova

A few days ago a Scorpio car full of explosives was found outside 'Antilia', home of industrialis