Final phase of Odisha Elections begins; 460 candidates in fray

Bhubaneswar: The fourth or last phase of Odisha Elections began to decide the fate of 460 candidates in 6 parliamentary and 42 assembly constituencies.

The polling began at 7 am at amid tight security at 10,882 polling stations. The voting will be held till 6 pm.

Total 99.61 lakh electors (50.88 lakh male, 48.72 lakh female and 687 third gender) will exercise their democratic rights to elect their representatives for 6 PCs — Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur — and 42 Assembly seats in final phase of polls in the state, the CEO Odisha said.

Total 460 candidates are in the fray, of which 66 are for Parliament and 394 for Assembly seats in Odisha. Of total 10,882 polling centres in final phase, more than 1,400 are being managed by women polling officials. Around 21% of the booths are sensitive booths.

“The sensitivity is being reassessed regularly. Many more booths are considered sensitive because of emerging political hostility,” the CEO stated.

More than 70,000 polling employees except security personnel have been engaged for the last phase of twin polls in the state. Each polling station has one ASHA worker and a volunteer for assistance.

The ECI has appointed 12 general observers, 3 police observers, 18 expenditure observers for the 7th phase of elections in the national level and 4th phase for Odisha.

Total 36,000 security personnel which includes 126 companies of CAPF, 86 platoons of Odisha Armed Police and 20500 civil police personnel have been deployed for smooth conduct of polls at the polling stations. The CAPF has been deployed in 2,280 critical/vulnerable booths.

The CEO said that the elections have been very peaceful so far. In last three phases, which covered 15 PCs (4 in first phase on May 13, 5 in second phase on May 20 and 6 in third phase on May 25), the polling had been peaceful except minor incidents.