Fresh polling recommended for 10 booths

By Ratikant Mohanty

Bhubaneswar, April 17: The Chief Electoral Officer, Orissa, on recommended to the Election Commission of India for fresh polling in 10 booths where repolling could not be held due to Maoist threats and poll violence, even as the political parties geared up for massive campaigning for the second and final phase of elections scheduled to be held on April 23.

Polling could not be held at certain pockets in Koraput, Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Angul, Bolangir, Nuapada and Ganjam districts.

Meanwhile, the first phase of elections in Orissa, held on Thursday, witnessed heavy polling of around 66 per cent, indicating a strong anti-establishment wave in the state.

“The polling percentage has been revised after getting real voting picture from different districts. The polling recorded a turnout of 65.9 percent of total voters,” a press statement issued by the state chief electoral office said here on Friday.

Ten Lok Sabha and 70 Assembly constituencies went to polls in Orissa in the first phase.

The Maoist-infested Malkangiri district recorded lowest turnout of voters (41 percent), while Boudh district highest polling of 73.2 percent.

The riot-hit Kandhamal witnessed an impressive polling of 65.7 percent.

The polling percentage recorded in other districts are Bargarh- 70, Balangir- 68.9, Deogarh-71.1, Gajapati-65.8, Ganjam- 55.7, Jharsuguda-68.5, Kalahandi-69.4, Koraput-63.1, Nawarangpur- 71.2, Nuapada-68, Rayagada-64.5 ,Sambalpur- 64.8 , Sonepur- 71.9 and Sundergarh- 61.3 percent.

The CEO has proposed fresh polling in 10 booths spread over these districts, to the election commission of India.

Meanwhile, Congress president is arriving here on a day’s visit to the state on Saturday to campaign for her party. This will be second phase of campaigning in the state.

She is scheduled to address election rallies at Bhadrak and Banharpalli in coastal Orissa, which is going to polls on April 23.