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

India-Canada: The issue of the murder of a Canadian Sikh was also raised in G20, US President Biden spoke to PM Modi

In the last few days, there has been a rift in the relations between Canada and India. India also

Guru Purnima 2023: Donate these things according to the zodiac sign on Guru Purnima, and you will get freedom from all troubles

Guru Purnima 2023: Purnima Tithi falls on the next day of Chaturdashi of Shukla Paksha every mont

RSS, Ramdev, Ravi Shankar engaging in politics: Congress

New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) The Congress Tuesday moved the Election Commission against the RSS, y

National Achievement Survey 2021: Drop in the average performance of students as soon as they go to class 8th-10th, 48% of students walk to school

The ability to learn is decreasing by the time of classes VIII and X as compared to classes III,

Weather Update: Along with the hill states, the plains are also in the grip of cold, the weather will remain like this in the coming days

Along with the national capital Delhi, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Hary

Fresh Snowfall Shuts Srinagar-Jammu Highway

Srinagar, Feb 2 (IANS) Fresh snowfall Monday closed the strategic Srinagar-Jammu highway as the

Baba Siddiqui Murder: 'BJP leader's name in Papa's diary...', a new twist in Baba Siddiqui murder case after Zeeshan's statement

Ajit faction NCP leader Baba Siddiqui's murder case is getting more complicated day by day. On on

World Cup hero Starc tops Cricket bowlers Rankings

Melbourne, March 31 (IANS) Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has surged to the top of the One-Day

DC vs GT Playing 11: Pant's leadership will be tested against Gujarat, Ishant Sharma may return

Rishabh Pant's leadership abilities will be tested in the IPL match against Gujarat Titans&n

Distributing 'Revdi' will create the situation in Sri Lanka? Arvind Kejriwal replied

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has responded to the statement of BJP's Gujarat unit chief C