May 12th 2024.
The stage is all set for an eventful day in Bhubaneswar, as the first phase of simultaneous elections to four Lok Sabha constituencies and 28 Assembly segments in Odisha is scheduled for Monday. According to officials, the Election Commission has taken extensive measures to ensure an unbiased and smooth voting process.
The Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha, NB Dhal, stated that the polling will be conducted in Berhampur, Koraput, Nabarangpur, and Kalahandi Lok Sabha constituencies, along with 28 Assembly segments that fall within their jurisdiction. A total of 37 candidates are in the fray for the Lok Sabha polls, while 243 nominees are vying for the 28 Assembly seats in this phase.
It's a fierce competition between the major political parties - BJD, Congress, and BJP - as they have fielded their candidates in all the constituencies. However, there are also some smaller and regional parties, as well as independent candidates, who are trying their luck in this election.
The voting will commence at 7 AM on Monday and will continue till 6 PM in 7,303 polling stations across the four Lok Sabha seats and their corresponding Assembly segments. The polling personnel have already reached their designated booths and are prepared to oversee the voting process. In some remote areas where Maoist activities are a concern, the voting is scheduled to end at 4 PM and 5 PM.
A total of 62.87 lakh electors, including 31.89 lakh women, are eligible to cast their votes in this phase of the twin polls. Interestingly, the number of women voters is higher than men, with 30.97 lakh male electors in this phase. This reflects the growing participation of women in the democratic process in the state.
The four Lok Sabha seats fall under six Maoist-affected police districts - Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, and Kalahandi - and three other police districts of Ganjam, Berhampur, and Gajapati, as stated by the Odisha DGP Arun Kumar Sarangi. To ensure transparency, 60% of the polling stations have been equipped with webcasting facilities.
A total of 1,264 polling stations, including all booths in Maoist-affected areas, have been identified as critical ones by the CEO. The voting process will involve 53,000 polling personnel, with 715 all-women booths and 39 booths run by persons with disability.
Some prominent leaders who are contesting in the Lok Sabha polls include sitting MP Saptagiri Ulaka of Congress from Koraput seat, former MPs Pradeep Majhi of the BJD and Balabhdra Maji of the BJP in Nabarangpur, and Pradeep Panigrahi of the BJP and BJD's Bhrugu Baxipatra in Berhampur. In the Assembly polls, we have state ministers Jagannath Saraka and Rajendra Dholkia, Odisha Congress chief Sarat Patnaik, and Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das in the fray.
Apart from them, Congress MLAs Taraprasad Bahinipati and Adhiraj Panigrahi, former chief secretary Bijay Patnaik, ex-minister DS Mishra, former leader of opposition Pradipta Naik, and former MLA Ramesh Chandra Chayupattnaik are also trying their luck in the Assembly elections.
In the first phase of twin polls, Odisha has witnessed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, BJP president JP Nadda, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Dev Sai campaigning for BJP candidates. On the other hand, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and senior leader Kartik Pandian have campaigned for the BJD. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has addressed a rally at Rayagada under the Koraput Lok Sabha seat through virtual mode.
The entire state is buzzing with excitement and anticipation as the first phase of elections is about to take place on Monday. The people of Odisha are all set to exercise their right to vote and choose their representatives for the Lok Sabha and Assembly seats. Let's hope for a fair and peaceful voting process.
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