May 23rd 2024.
During a press conference held on Thursday, Odisha's Chief Electoral Officer, NB Dhal, announced that over 94.48 lakh individuals are eligible to cast their votes in the upcoming round of polling on May 25. This round will cover six Lok Sabha and 42 assembly segments in the state.
To ensure a smooth and secure voting process, the Election Commission has decided to deploy 121 companies of Central Armed Police Forces during the third phase of polling, which coincides with the sixth phase nationally. These forces will be stationed in the state to maintain law and order.
The six Lok Sabha constituencies that will be voting in this round are Puri, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, and Sambalpur. These constituencies also encompass 42 assembly seats within their jurisdictions.
Out of the 94.48 lakh eligible voters, approximately 21% are youths, aged 30 years or below. This highlights the importance of the youth in shaping the future of our country.
A total of 10,551 polling stations have been set up for this phase, with about 2,000 of them designated as model polling stations. These model polling stations will serve as an example of efficient and transparent voting. Additionally, over 2,000 polling stations have been identified as critical, and special security arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful voting.
In a progressive move, 1,500 polling stations will be managed entirely by women, and another 30 will be managed by Persons with Disabilities. This is a step towards inclusivity and empowerment. Over 70,000 polling staff will be deployed to conduct the elections smoothly.
A total of 383 candidates, including 339 men and 44 women, will be contesting for the 42 assembly seats, while 64 candidates will vie for the six Lok Sabha seats. This reflects the enthusiasm and participation of the people in the democratic process.
With all these preparations in place, the state is ready for the upcoming round of polling, and the Election Commission is committed to ensuring a free and fair election for the people of Odisha.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]