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.
'Prisoner No. N956 You are bailed... Aryan Khan, you are bailed...!' As soon as the prisoner numb
Nikita Kaul, the wife of Major Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, who was martyred in the Pulwama
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the Commissioner and DM will be held responsible for neg
At least 22 people, including children and women, have been injured in a shooting during New Year
Bengal got Rs.93,600-crore commitment at global summit: Mamata
Kolkata, Jan 7 (IANS) West Bengal received commitment of Rs.93,600 crore on the first day of th
Sachin Wajhe told ED - Deshmukh and Parab took Rs 40 crore bribe from 10 DCPs to stop the transfer
Sacked police officer Sachin Wajhe in his statement to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has made
HC slams Delhi Police on women's safety
New Delhi, Jan 30 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Friday slammed Delhi Police, asking why they can'
EC to monitor Punjab parties 48 hours before polling
Chandigarh, April 23 (IANS) Organising parties and private functions as a cover-up for entertai
Manipur Violence: Violence not stopping in Manipur, intermittent firing at two places; no casualties
Violence in Manipur is not taking the name of stopping. Intermittent firing has been reported at
Europe is the worst hit by the six-month-long war between Russia and Ukraine. Even this, Europe's
