May 25th 2024.
The bustling city of Bhubaneswar, in the eastern state of Odisha, was abuzz with excitement as the clock struck 7am on Saturday. This marked the beginning of the highly anticipated voting process for the six Lok Sabha constituencies and 42 Assembly segments in the state. People from all walks of life gathered at the 10,581 polling stations to exercise their right to vote and make their voices heard.
According to the Chief Electoral Officer NB Dhal, the voter turnout was at 21.30 percent at 11am, with over 94.48 lakh eligible voters casting their ballots. The highest percentage of votes, 22.41 percent, was recorded in the Dhenkanal Lok Sabha seat, closely followed by Sambalpur, Puri, Keonjhar, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack. However, amidst the smooth and peaceful voting process, there were a few reports of technical glitches with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Dhal informed the media that 116 ballot units, 125 control units, and 256 Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines had to be replaced due to these issues. Despite this, the voting process continued uninterrupted, with the help of the 35,000 security personnel deployed across the booths, including 121 companies of central forces.
Unfortunately, there were a couple of unfortunate incidents reported during the voting. An elderly woman voter collapsed at a polling booth in Nayagarh Assembly segment and passed away at the hospital. In a separate incident, a polling agent at a booth in Hindol Assembly segment of Dhenkanal Lok Sabha seat also lost his life. These incidents were a reminder of the importance of maintaining good health and safety measures during the voting process.
Meanwhile, the city saw a number of prominent figures making their way to the polling booths. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who walked to the Aerodrome Upper Primary School near his residence, expressed confidence in his party's ability to form a stable government in the state. Other leaders, such as senior BJD leader Kartik Pandian and BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda, also cast their votes at different booths in Bhubaneswar.
As the day progressed, the voter turnout continued to rise, with people from all age groups and backgrounds coming out to fulfill their civic duty. The enthusiasm and determination displayed by the people of Odisha were truly commendable, and it was heartening to witness such a peaceful and democratic voting process.
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