Odisha's voter turn out 74.5%, fresh poll in 22 polling booths

The voter turn out during yesterday's first phase polling for 10 Lok Sabha constituencies and 70 assembly seats in Odisha was 74.48 per cent as against the previous election (2009) ratio of 65.5 per cent, official sources said.
"The state average of polling was 74.48 per cent, much higher than the previous elections," said Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha, Mona Sharma.
Stating that tribal dominated and Maoist-hit Nabarangpur topped the list with 81.89 per cent of polling, Sharma said Ganjam district was at bottom with 64.5 per cent.
Large-scale migration of people to Gujarat and other states is likely to be responsible for the low turn out of voters in Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's home district of Ganjam, sources said.

A large number of people came out to vote in Malkangiri despite Maoists call for a boycot. The ultras, however, succeeded in foiling polling in 15 polling stations.
Other Maoist hit districts also performed well in terms of voter turn out as Rayagada recorded a high of 77.40 pc, followed by Koraput with 76.20 pc, Nuapada 74.89 pc, Kandhamal 73.15 pc and Gajapati and Bargarh with 72 pc.

The poll percentage in the other districts where elections were held yesterday were Jharsuguda 80.02 pc, Sundargarh-70.50 pc Sambalpur-74.06 pc, Deogarh-78.08 pc, Angul-76.44 pc, Subarnpur-78.65 pc, Kalahandi-74 pc, Boudh-81 pc and Nayagarh-68.45 pc.

However, Sharma said she has recommended fresh polling in 22 booths spread over seven districts. While fresh polling will be held in 15 booths under Chitrakonda assembly segment of Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seat due to Maoist setting fire on EVMs or snatching them away, two booths in Koraput district have been hit due to LEW attacks.
Fresh polling will also take place in the assembly segments of Bijepur, Jharsuguda, Daspalla, Bhanjanagar, Athmalik, Potangi and Kotpada, she said.