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.
Canara Bank appoints V.S. Krishnakumar as interim MD, CEO
Mumbai, Jan 1 (IANS) State-owned Canara Bank Thursday sai
Over 12 mn eligible to vote in Delhi Thursday
New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) Over 12 million people are eligible to cast their votes Thursday in t
What is the anti-cow slaughter law of UP and why did the High Court comment on this
The Allahabad High Court, while hearing a case this week, has questioned the use of anti-cow slau
Like Sri Lanka, our neighboring country Pakistan is also going through a period of serious econom
Weather Update Today. Tuesday morning started with severe cold and fog in many districts of North
Nippon Life acquires nine percent stake in RCAM
Chennai, Feb 27 (IANS) Japanese life insurance major Nippon Life Insurance has acquired an addi
The weather has suddenly taken a turn in the country. According to the Meteorological Department,
Lucknow. The process of providing letters of letters between Congress General Secretary Priyanka
Israel has officially declared war after the attack by terrorist organization Hamas. After the ma
Maamannan: Madras High Court gives relief to the makers of 'Maamannan', refuses to stay the film
There is good news for the makers of the Tamil film 'Mamanan'. The Madras High Court has refused
