May 25th 2024.
The city of Bhubaneswar in Odisha was buzzing with excitement as citizens flocked to polling stations to exercise their democratic right. As the clock struck 7am, the voting process officially began in six Lok Sabha constituencies and 42 Assembly segments. These included Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Puri parliamentary constituencies, as well as the corresponding Assembly segments within their jurisdiction.
According to the Chief Electoral Officer, NB Dhal, the voting process has been going smoothly so far in the 10,581 polling stations, with only a few reports of technical glitches in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). As of 1pm, 35.69% of the total 94.48 lakh electorate had cast their votes. Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat recorded the highest turnout at 38.13%, followed by Puri, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Cuttack, and Bhubaneswar.
Dhal also shared that 116 ballot units, 125 control units, and 256 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines had to be replaced due to technical issues during the mock polls before the actual voting began. Unfortunately, there were also a few unfortunate incidents reported, including the death of an elderly woman voter at a polling booth in Nayagarh Assembly segment and the death of a polling agent at a booth in Hindol Assembly segment.
One of the main concerns raised by voters was the Election Commission's (EC) restrictions on carrying mobile phones to the polling booths. Many expressed their frustration and even returned home without casting their votes. They claimed that they were not informed beforehand about this restriction. In response, Dhal clarified that voters could deposit their phones at the voter assistance booths set up outside the polling booths and collect them after casting their vote.
To ensure the safety and security of the voters, a total of 35,000 security personnel, including 121 companies of central forces, were deployed at various booths. Among the early voters were Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who walked to the Aerodrome Upper Primary School near his residence in Bhubaneswar to cast his vote. He expressed confidence in his party's victory, stating that they would form a stable government in the state. Gajapati Maharaj of Puri, Divya Singh Deb, and senior BJD leader Kartik Pandian also exercised their franchise in Puri.
The polling process also saw the participation of other prominent leaders such as Chief Secretary PK Jena and BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda, who cast their votes at different booths in Bhubaneswar. As the day progressed, more and more citizens came out to cast their votes and make their voices heard. The final voter turnout and the results of the elections remain to be seen.
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