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.
Tripti Dimri, who made people crazy with the movie 'Animal', is touching new heights. People can'
After the Indian team won the T20 World Cup 2024 title, the fans got one shock after another. Aft
These days, BR Chopra's Mahabharata is being shown again on TV. Jinta Bada this serial is equally
Indian Cancer Society (ICS), India's largest cancer-fighting NGO, celebrated World Cancer Day by
The monsoon is slowly starting to weaken. Monsoon is likely to depart in the next few days. It is
A horrific case of alleged gang rape has come to light with a minor girl in Kondagaon district of
Kolkata celebrates New Year with picnics, prayers
Kolkata, Jan 1 (IANS) People in the eastern metropolis - including backpackers and travellers f
RBI has released a report on the spending of Indians abroad. It has been revealed that in the fir
China, and India issued SOP to attack not only on the border but also on the Internet
Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed on the Line of Actual Control in the Tawang sector of Arunach
Mick Jagger's Daughter makes Mulberry debut
London, Jan 28 (IANS) Model Georgia May Jagger, daughter of Rolling Stones rocker Mick Jagger,
