Bhubaneswar: About 74 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm in the first phase of Odisha Assembly and 4th phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024.
According to sources, voters of Kalahandi, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Brahampur parliamentary constituencies took pride in casting their votes. Besides peaceful, free and fair polling in the Naxal-affected Swabhiman Area in Malkangiri district, Kotia gram panchayat emerged as a major highlight of the first phase of polling in Odisha.
Kotia Gram Panchayat in Patangi block of Koraput District has nine polling stations with 5,510 number of voters. Around 76% of votes have been polled by 5 pm in these polling stations, sources said.
Swabhiman Anchal, the erstwhile hotbed of left wing extremism activities in Malkangiri district, witnessed impressive voter turnout in the elections in the Naxal-affected region. Around 65.46 per cent votes have been polled by 5 pm in 23 polling booths.
As per reports of CEO, 4,158 PwDs and senior citizens aged 85 and above (categorised as very senior citizens) across 28 Assembly segments under the four constituencies have opted for voting from home for the May 13 polls. While 2,196 are aged above 85, 1,962 are PwDs, are highest number of such voters in both the categories from the Kalahandi constituency.
People with visual and locomotive disabilities, voters with impaired movement and senior citizens provided transport free of cost from their residences to polling booths across the state.
Special differently-abled youths managed booths, called Sakhi booths, which were set up in areas to welcome voters. Polling booths in these regions have been decked up with artwork based on tribal art and culture.
Besides, the district administrations came up with selfie stands and water kiosks. Besides, help kiosks have been opened for the convenience of voters. Wheelchairs were provided to specially-abled and senior citizens. They were provided free vehicle service to ply from their residences to polling centres.
Almost all identified critical booths adopted the live webcasting facilities.
To ensure a free and fair polling process in the Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency, which spans Ganjam and Gajapati districts, over 60% of the total 1,704 polling booths were provided with webcasting facilities as the first phase of elections kick off on Monday. N Thirumala Naik, the Additional Chief Electoral Officer Of Odisha has kept a watch on webcasting booths.
Besides, three polling parties in Nuapada district were airlifted.
Chief Election Officer Nikunja Bihari Dhal thanked voters and political parties for maintaining discipline in the election.
