Smikhsya Bureau
Over 35 per cent turnout of voters was reported till 1300hrs in the fourth and last phase of election to six Lok sabha and 41 Assembly seats in Odisha, Chief Electoral Office Sources said here today.
The percentage of polling is certain to rise with the progress of the day as braving scorching heat hundreds of women, old and young voters stood in long queue to exercise their franchise.
Though no major incidents of violence was reported till now but incidents like poll rigging, delay in polling due to EVM malfunctioning and breaking of EVM machines marred the polling.
There was largescale resentment as in some places like in booth no.157 in Baripada Assembly constituency and in a booth in Pattamundai under kendrapara Assembly constituency as the polling could not be started till 1200 hrs due to problem in EVM and VVPAT machines.
Tension prevailed in several places following clashes between supporters of rival political parties in Balasore, Kendrapara and Jajpur Lok Sabha constituencies.
CEO source said, Baikuntha Nath Mallick the Presiding Officer of booth no.191 of Binjharpur Assembly Constituency and Mr Janardan Prusty, the fourth polling officer of booth no.196 under Sukinda Assembly constituency were placed under suspension for trying to influence the voters.
The Collector also ordered their immediate arrest.
Odisha DGP R P Sharma said, so far no violence was reported from anywhere and the polling was going on peacefully.
An FIR was lodged against a BJD polling agent of Patrakana Karsana booth after a BJP agent sustained injuries in an attack by the BJD agent.
Tension prevailed in booth no. 86 of Basudevpur Assembly constituency after the Congress and the BJD workers scuffled with each other. The problem arose after the BJD workers allegedly forced the voters to cast their votes in favour of the BJD candidate.
As per the reports, an individual was trying to influence the voters and indulging in poll rigging in booth no.131 at Aliha Singri primary school under Aul Assembly constituency.
The booth rigging went viral in social media and the DGP asked the Kendrapara Superintendent of Police to probe into the matter.
Kendrapara SP Niti Sekhar however, denied receiving any reports of poll rigging and said barring the glitches in the EVM machines, the polling is going on smoothly in the constituency.
In another incident, a woman was seen threatening another women standing on the queue to cast her vote in 169 booth of Gajarajpur Panchayat in Jagatsinghpur.
The woman threatened to withdraw all facilities provided to her now if she did not vote for a particular party also went viral in social media.
Polling was disrupted for some times in Dharmasala Assembly constituency after EVM was allegedly damaged by BJD workers in booth no.173.
An EVM was also allegedly damaged in booth no. 231 at Rahania Panchayat of Bhandari Pokhari Assembly constituency during a scuffle between the BJD and BJP workers.
A report from Bhandari Pokhari Assembly constituency said, tension prevailed in booth no. 247 of Huguli Panchayat under after some BJD workers attacked a BJP polling agent.
BJP polling agent –Jagabandhu Sethi sustained injuries in the attack by the BJD supporters in booth no.173 of the Chahata Panchayat under Dharmasala Assembly constituency and rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack.
There was reports about tension prevailing in Sukurpada in Mahanga Assmbly constituency during the visit of BJP Kendrapara Lok Sabha candidate Baijayanta Panda. Some BJD activists assaulted the BJP workers in the presence of Mr Panda.
Long queues were seen since early morning before the polling stations across the eight districts where the polling is underway for the fourth and final phase elections notwithstanding the scorching sun.
About 95,14,883 voters would exercise the franchise spread over 10,792 booths of which 3,092 polling stations have been declared as critical, to seal the fate of 52 candidates contesting for six Lok Sabha seats and 336 candidates for the 41 Assembly seats.
The six Lok Sabha seats going for polling today are Mayurbhanj(ST), Balasore, Bhadrak(SC), Jajpur(SC), Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur(SC) and 41 Assembly seats falling under these parliamentary constituencies.
The polling in Patkura assembly seat falling under Kendrapara Lok sabha constituency will be held on May 19 following the demise of BJD candidate Bed Prakash Agarwal on April 20 last.
(With UNI inputs)
