Odisha gears up for first phase of Lok Sabha, assembly polls

The stage is set for over 60 lakh voters in Odisha, including more than 30 lakh women, to exercise their franchise in the first phase of polls for four Lok Sabha and 28 assembly seats on Thursday.

Women outnumber men in these constituencies as they form 30,30,222 of an estimated 60,03,707 electorate, while 29,72,925 are male. As many as 560 voters belong to the third gender for the first of the four-phase polls.

Preparations for polling in the opening phase has reached the final stage, and necessary steps have been taken to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections to be held in 7,233 booths, said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Surendra Kumar.

Elaborate security arrangements have also been made to ensure smooth polling and foil any attempt to disrupt the process in Maoist-affected areas, he said.

Several areas in Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Berhampur and Koraput Lok Sabha constituencies and 28 assembly segments falling under them are Naxal-hit, an official said.

While polling parties have already been dispatched to their respective stations, security has been tightened mainly in Malkangiri and Koraput districts to thwart any bid by Maoists to derail the poll process.

At least two helicopters are being used to send polling officials to inaccessible and highly-sensitive polling stations in Malkangiri, Kumar said.

Extra vigil is being maintained and alert sounded in the wake of killing of five people, including an MLA, in Dantewada area of neighbouring Chhattisgarh and recovery of two landmines in Gajapati district, said a police official.

"We have taken required security measures to provide necessary protection for the voters during election," DGP In-Charge B K Sharma said.

Around 47,805 polling personnel are being deployed to conduct the first phase of the polls, the CEO said, adding, women staff have been deployed in 30 booths.

Special arrangements have been made in 2,375 critical and sensitive polling booths, while satellite phones provided in 810 booths, where there are no mobile or internet facilities, he said.

Paramilitary forces, police, flying squads, static surveillance teams, poll observers, videography teams and excise sleuths will be deployed in the constituencies.

The first phase of polls will decide the fate of a total of 217 candidates. There are 26 hopefuls in fray, including two women, in four Lok Sabha constituencies, and 191 candidates, 16 of them women, in 28 assembly seats.

In order to assist differently-abled voters, vehicles will be deployed to transport them to polling stations, while volunteers are also being engaged to help them cast their votes in the booths.

The high-decibel electioneering in the constituencies going to polls in the first phase had come to a halt on Tuesday evening, after leaders of all political parties undertook whirlwind tours of the areas.

Lok Sabha and assembly elections are being held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. Counting of votes will be held on May 23. There are 21 Lok Sabha and 147 assembly seats in the state.