Bhubaneswar, Feb 23: Over 79 percent of electorates have exercised their franchise in the fourth phase polling of Panchayat elections in Odisha held on February 22 last, State Election Commission sources said quoting the final report. Sonepur recorded a voter turnout of 86.51 percent the highest in the state followed by 84.87 percent in Bargarh and 83.3 percent in Nabarangpur .
Ganjam district reported 65.2 percent, the lowest voter turnout in the state. The Fifth and final phase of elections in the state will be held on February 24 next and people of 25 districts will cast their votes. Swabhiman Anchala (erstwhile cut-off area) under Chitrakonda Block in Malkangiri District will also go to poll during this phase. Sources said elections are being held in swabhiman area after a gap of ten years. Elections could not be held in the area for the last ten years due to Maoist problem.
State Police have made adequate security arrangements for free and fair elections. Police sources said 258 platoons force, 1148 mobile patrolling parties along with district Police Officers will be deployed all over the state for smooth conduct of the fifth phase of elections. Over 41.88 lakh voters are scheduled to exercise their franchise in 13,514 booths during this phase of elections. The election will be conducted with strict enforcement of State Election Commission Guidelines and Covid protocols.
SEC sources said so far polling has been completed in 78,389 booths throughout the state out of total 91,093 booths . Police sources said polling has been peaceful throughout the state barring polling disruptions in a negligible number of booths due to public disturbances, wrong folding/ printing of ballot papers and other reasons. Polling is already over peacefully in seven police districts such as Jharsuguda, Boudh, Deogarh, Berhampur, Angul, UPD Cuttack and Khordha.
Police have arrested 147 accused persons in connection with poll disruption incidents during the first four phases in five districts. They included 103 from Jajpur district, 10 in Dhenkanal, seven in Jagatsinghpur, three in Kendrapara and 24 in Puri district . Meanwhile, the re-polling was conducted on Wednesday in 45 booths where elections were disrupted due to various reasons during the first and second phase of polling held on February 16 and 18 respectively.
SEC sources said polling was disrupted in 25 booths during the first phase of election on February 16 and 20 booths during the second phase of elections on February 18. Adequate security arrangements have been made in different strong rooms throughout the state with CCTV coverage to ensure round the clock safety of polled Ballot Boxes. The counting of votes will be done in three phases on February 26, 27 and 28 next. Security and CCTV arrangements will be made at different Block Headquarters throughout the State by respective SPs for smooth counting of votes.
