Bhubaneswar, Feb 22: Over 20 per cent of voters have exercised their franchise till 0900 hours in the fourth phase of polling for the three-tier Panchayati Raj elections in Odisha. The fourth phase of the election began at 0700 hrs on Tuesday with strict enforcement of State Election Commission guidelines and Covid protocols. State Election Commission (SEC) sources said voter turnout of 20 per cent was recorded till 9 AM. The voting process will continue till 1300hrs.
About 51.31 lakh voters will exercise their franchise in 17089 booths in 1254 Panchayats in 64 blocks spread over 27 districts in the state. As many as 667 candidates are contesting for 163 Zilla Parishad zones in the fourth phase. Out of the 17089 booths 2563 booths have been identified as sensitive booths. Keeping in view wide-scale violence and disruption in the first three phases of elections, the authorities have made adequate security arrangements this time for free and fair elections. As many as 257 platoons of security forces, 1473 mobile patrolling parties along district police officers have been deployed all over the state for the smooth conduct of the elections. SEC sources said elections had already been done in 61300 booths throughout the state out of a total of 91093 booths during the first three phases of elections. Barring disruption in elections in a few places, the polling was peaceful across the state, the SEC said.
Police have arrested 82 accused from four districts— Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur and Puri so far in connection with the poll disruption incidents during the first three phases of elections. Police have arrested 43 persons from Jajpur, 9 from Dhenkanal, six from Jagatsinghpur and 24 accused from Puri district. Polling is already over peacefully in five police districts— Jharsuguda, Boudh, Deogarha, Berhampur and Khordha. While the first phase of polling held on February 16 recorded a voter turnout of 77.2 per cent, there was 78. 3 per cent polling in the second phase of election on February 18 and 78.6 per cent of polling in the third phase of polling held on February 20 last. The fifth, the last phase of polling for the PRI will be held on February 24 next.
