Bhubaneswar, Feb 18: Apart from stray incidents of violence, the second phase voting for the three-tier Panchayat elections in the Odisha concluded with 71% voters exercising their franchise, the State Election Commissioner Aditya Prasad Padhi said on Friday.
The percentage of voting is likely to go up after further compilation of the data.
“Apart from stray incidents of violence, the overall polls were conducted peacefully across the State,” said Padhi.
As per preliminary reports, voting was disrupted at some booths in Jagatsinghpur and Jajpur districts. Re-polling is likely to be held at two-three booths owing to some irregularities in the ballot papers. Appropriate decision will be taken based on the reports of concerned district Collectors, said Padhi.
The SEC said that 62.10 lakh eligible voters were to exercise their franchise in the second phase Panchayat polls. Out of that, the total voters’ turnout recorded (preliminarily) stood at 71 per cent.
Earlier the Commission had issued directions to the Director General of Police to take adequate measures for the smooth conduct of the polls after large-scale violence was reported during the first phase voting on February 16.
Odisha recorded 77.2% voter turnout in the first phase of the Panchayat elections held on Wednesday.
Boudh district had recorded the highest 84.7% voter turnout followed by Deogarh (83.75), Jharsuguda (82.1), Angul (82.6), Subarnapur (81.56), Kalahandi (81.12), Nabarangpur (80.54) and Koraput (80.2). Ganjam reported the lowest voter turnout with 64.96% people exercising their franchise in the poll.
