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.
After the budget, PM Narendra Modi addressed the first webinar on green development. In his addre
Increase in Passengers at Kerala Airports
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 28 (IANS) Kerala, which has three international airports, saw an increa
Delhi launches India's first 'e-ration card' facility
New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday launched the country
Redmi Note 9 sale will be held on July 30, this model of Realme will be competing
The smartphone maker company is going to sell the Xiaomi Note series smartphone Redmi Note 9. Thi
Apple released the first iOS Rapid Security Response, this update came for bug fixes and security
Apple has released a new rapid security update for iPhones running iOS 16. The latest software pa
Shiv Sena rebel MLA Uddhav's cousin Raj Thackeray's party may join Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. Th
In many states of the country, the falling temperature has started showing its effect. Changes in
Defeat to India factor behind my knock: De Villiers
Sydney, Feb 27 (IANS) An elated South Africa skipper AB De Villiers, who smashed an unbeaten 16
AAP withholding municipal funds: BJP complains to LG
New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday said the AAP government was
RG Kar Case: 'Supreme' hearing on RG Kar murder case; Court refuses to ban live telecast
The Supreme Court heard the Kolkata murder case on Tuesday. The court had taken suo motu cognizan