Elections 2014: Odisha sees 74% polling in second phase

Elections 2014: Odisha sees 74% polling in second phase

Bhubaneswar: Total voter turn-out in the two-phased simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha was 74 percent against 65.3 percent polling in last general elections in 2009. While the turn-out in the second and last phase polling held yesterday was 73.4 percent, 75 percent of the voters had exercised their franchise in first phase elections on April 10, said Odisha's Chief Electoral Officer Mona Sharma said today. "There is no report of any major violence, no casualty and no major violation of model code of conduct for elections this time," Sharma said adding that poll boycotts have been reported from 25 polling stations. While people boycotted votes in 20 booths in the first phase polls, none turned up to cast their votes in five booths in the second and last phase of polling yesterday. A voters casts his vote during the Lok Sabha 2014 Elections. Reuters Giving details about the polling in the last phase of polls, Sharma said tribal dominated Mayurbhanj recorded highest voters turn out with 82 percent voting followed by 78 percent in Angul district, 76 percent in Dhenkanal district, 75.68 percent in Nayagarh district, 75.22 percent in Jajpur district and 75 percent in Bhadrak district. Similarly, Sharma said the polling percentage in Puri was 73.95 percent, Kendrapara- 72.91 percent, Keonjhar recorded 72 percent, Balaosre- 71.89 percent, Cuttack 70 percent and Khurda district recorded lowest voter turn-out at only 56 percent. The CEO also claimed that there was peaceful re-polling in 22 booths including 15 in Maoist hit Malkangiri district. Besides fresh polling were held in Koraput, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Ganjam, Nayagarh and Angul districts. Replying a question, Sharma said there was stray violence involving snatching and torching of EVMs and some cases of attempted rigging. "Above all, there was absolutely no major violence in both the phases of polling on April 10 and April 17," she said. Sharma said the flying squads and police have seized a total of Rs 2.61 crore cash on transit besides seizure of huge quantity of liquor during the elections. She said about 600 complaints, mostly relating to hoardings on government buildings, advertisements on news papers and distribution of money among the voters. "We have intervened in all the cases and verified them," she said. The sealed EVMs have been kept amid tight security in 64 strong rooms in different parts of the state, she said adding CCTVs have been installed to keep a close vigil on the voting machines. A three-tier security net had been erected with the first layer manned by CRPF personnel in order to ensure safety for EVMs till the counting day on May 16. PTI