39.30% of eligible voters in Odisha have cast their ballots as of 1pm.

The voting process in Odisha's four Lok Sabha and 28 Assembly constituencies on Monday saw a turnout of 39.30 per cent by 1pm, according to officials. The polls, which began at 7am in 7,303 polling stations, covered the parliamentary constituencies of Berhampur, Koraput, Nabarangpur, and Kalahandi, along with 28 Assembly segments within their jurisdiction. It's worth noting that the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are being held simultaneously in the state.

As of 1pm, over 62.87 lakh voters had exercised their right to vote, with the highest turnout recorded in the tribal-dominated Kalahandi Lok Sabha seat at 42.67 per cent, closely followed by Nabarangpur at 42.65 per cent. The Koraput and Berhampur constituencies also saw a significant number of voters casting their ballots. Fortunately, there have been no reports of any untoward incidents in any of the polling stations, according to police officials.

The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) reported that some polling stations experienced issues with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), but they were promptly replaced within 30 minutes. So far, 65 Ballot Units, 83 Control Units, and 110 Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) have been replaced, with most of the replacements taking place during the mock poll exercise before the actual voting began at 7am. The CEO also mentioned that there was a high level of enthusiasm among the voters, and the Swabhiman Anchal (formerly known as the "cut-off area" and a former Maoist stronghold) in Malkangiri district saw a smooth voting process.

The Kotia area, located under the Pottangi Assembly segment of the Koraput Lok Sabha seat, also saw a large number of voters exercising their franchise. The CEO highlighted the successful operation of the model booths, women booths, and PWD booths during the voting process. However, there have been reports of poll boycott in some areas due to local issues, and the Election Commission has urged people to still come out and vote.

Several prominent leaders, including Saptagiri Ulaka of the Congress, Pradeep Panigrahy of the BJP, and Malavika Keshari Deo of the BJP, among others, were among the first voters in their respective constituencies. In other news, the Election Commission has taken strict action against two polling officials for neglecting their duties. The officials from Narla Assembly constituency in Kalahandi district and Chikiti Assembly segment in Ganjam district have been suspended, according to the Chief Electoral Officer, Nikunja Bihari Dhal.

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