Over 76.93 lakh voters will on Thursday decide the fate of 279 candidates, including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union minister Jual Oram, in the second phase of polls for five Lok Sabha and 35 assembly seats in Odisha.

Out of the total electorate of 76,93,123, there are 37,47,493 women voters. At least 605 electors belong to the third gender.

Preparations for the second phase of polls have reached the final stage and necessary steps have been taken to ensure free, fair and peaceful voting to be held in 9,117 booths, said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Surendra Kumar.

Polling will be held in Aska, Kandhamal, Sundergarh, Bargarh and Bolangir Lok Sabha constituencies and 35 assembly segments under them. The polling staff have reached the booths in time, he said.

Over 60,000 polling personnel have been deployed to conduct the second phase, Kumar said, adding, 8,700 vehicles will be used for their transportation.

"For the first time in the state, the vehicles of all sector officers are provided with GPS tracking facilities to ensure proper monitoring," the CEO said.

Out of the total number of 9,117 booths, 3,701 have been identified as critical, and arrangements have been made for deployment of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) in 739 booths, he said.

Similarly, steps have been taken for webcasting in 883 booths, providing CCTV in 623 booths and engaging 892 micro-observers, Kumar said. Videography will be conducted in 331 places.

As some areas in Kandhamal, Bolangir and Bargarh are Maoist-affected, security has been heightened to ensure smooth conduct of polls in those pockets, a senior police officer said.

"Steps were taken for intensifying combing operations, patrolling and flag march in these areas," he said.

While CAPF have been deployed in the critical and sensitive booths, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Special Operation Group (SOG) and District Volunteer Force (DVF) personnel have been asked to intensify anti-Naxal operations in several areas, the officer said.

Paramilitary forces, police, flying squads, static surveillance teams, poll observers, videography teams and excise sleuths will also be deployed in the constituencies.

In order to assist differently-abled voters, vehicles will be deployed to transport them to polling stations, while wheelchairs and volunteers are also being made available to help them cast votes in the stations.

The voters include a total of 1,08,458 differently abled persons, and as many as 17,882 volunteers have been engaged to assist them, the CEO said.

On the basis of feedback received from the first phase of polls held on April 11, arrangements have been made for providing tents and chairs in the booths, in order to give respite to the voters from scorching heat, he said.

The second phase of polls will decide the fate of a total of 279 candidates. There are 35 hopefuls, including five women, in five Lok Sabha constituencies, and 244 candidates, 25 of them women, in 35 assembly seats.

Prominent among the contestants in the second phase is chief minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik, contesting from his home turf Hinjili in Ganjam district and Bijepur in Bargarh.

Among others, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram of the BJP, BJD's Rajya Sabha MPs Prasanna Acharya and Achyut Samant, BJP nominee and three-time MP Kharabela Swain are in the fray in the Lok Sabha polls.

In addition, senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra is in the fray from the Bolangir Assembly seat, while BJP legislature party leader K V Singhdeo is contesting from the Patnagarh Assembly seat.

Lok Sabha and assembly elections are being held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases.

While the first phase of polling was held on April 11, the remaining phases are scheduled for Thursday, April 23 and 29. Counting of votes will be held on May 23. 
There are 21 Lok Sabha and 147 assembly seats in the state.

Meanwhile, repolling will also be held on Thursday in two polling stations located in Malkangiri (ST) and Berhampur Assembly constituencies, following reports of glitches in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the first phase of polling.

Over 76.93 lakh voters will on Thursday decide the fate of 279 candidates, including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union minister Jual Oram, in the second phase of polls for five Lok Sabha and 35 assembly seats in Odisha.

Over 76.93 lakh voters will on Thursday decide the fate of 279 candidates, including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union minister Jual Oram, in the second phase of polls for five Lok Sabha and 35 assembly seats in Odisha. Out of the total electorate of 76,93,123, there are 37,47,493 women voters. At least 605 electors belong to the third gender. Preparations for the second phase of polls have reached the final stage and necessary steps have been taken to ensure free, fair and peaceful voting to be held in 9,117 booths, said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Surendra Kumar. Polling will be held in Aska, Kandhamal, Sundergarh, Bargarh and Bolangir Lok Sabha constituencies and 35 assembly segments under them. The polling staff have reached the booths in time, he said. Over 60,000 polling personnel have been deployed to conduct the second phase, Kumar said, adding, 8,700 vehicles will be used for their transportation. "For the first time in the state, the vehicles of all sector officers are provided with GPS tracking facilities to ensure proper monitoring," the CEO said. Out of the total number of 9,117 booths, 3,701 have been identified as critical, and arrangements have been made for deployment of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) in 739 booths, he said. Similarly, steps have been taken for webcasting in 883 booths, providing CCTV in 623 booths and engaging 892 micro-observers, Kumar said. Videography will be conducted in 331 places. As some areas in Kandhamal, Bolangir and Bargarh are Maoist-affected, security has been heightened to ensure smooth conduct of polls in those pockets, a senior police officer said. "Steps were taken for intensifying combing operations, patrolling and flag march in these areas," he said. While CAPF have been deployed in the critical and sensitive booths, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Special Operation Group (SOG) and District Volunteer Force (DVF) personnel have been asked to intensify anti-Naxal operations in several areas, the officer said. Paramilitary forces, police, flying squads, static surveillance teams, poll observers, videography teams and excise sleuths will also be deployed in the constituencies. In order to assist differently-abled voters, vehicles will be deployed to transport them to polling stations, while wheelchairs and volunteers are also being made available to help them cast votes in the stations. The voters include a total of 1,08,458 differently abled persons, and as many as 17,882 volunteers have been engaged to assist them, the CEO said. On the basis of feedback received from the first phase of polls held on April 11, arrangements have been made for providing tents and chairs in the booths, in order to give respite to the voters from scorching heat, he said. The second phase of polls will decide the fate of a total of 279 candidates. There are 35 hopefuls, including five women, in five Lok Sabha constituencies, and 244 candidates, 25 of them women, in 35 assembly seats. Prominent among the contestants in the second phase is chief minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik, contesting from his home turf Hinjili in Ganjam district and Bijepur in Bargarh. Among others, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram of the BJP, BJD's Rajya Sabha MPs Prasanna Acharya and Achyut Samant, BJP nominee and three-time MP Kharabela Swain are in the fray in the Lok Sabha polls. In addition, senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra is in the fray from the Bolangir Assembly seat, while BJP legislature party leader K V Singhdeo is contesting from the Patnagarh Assembly seat. Lok Sabha and assembly elections are being held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases. While the first phase of polling was held on April 11, the remaining phases are scheduled for Thursday, April 23 and 29. Counting of votes will be held on May 23. There are 21 Lok Sabha and 147 assembly seats in the state. Meanwhile, repolling will also be held on Thursday in two polling stations located in Malkangiri (ST) and Berhampur Assembly constituencies, following reports of glitches in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the first phase of polling.

Odisha gears up for second phase of Lok Sabha, assembly polls

The Congress has released its list of candidates for the upcoming assembly polls in Odisha. According to reports, the party has fielded Biren Senapati, Ramesh Purohit, Shyamghan Pradhan and Shambhunath Panigrahi from Rourkela, Patnagarh, G Udaygiri and Hinjili, respectively.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lok-sabha-polls-congress-releases-sixth-list-of-candidates-204430">The Congress, last week, released its 6th list of candidates</a> for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections - seven from Maharashtra and two from Kerala, for the Lok Sabha election.&nbsp;

With this, the party has released names of 146 candidates for the election starting on April 11.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-bjp-announces-list-of-100-candidates-for-odisha-assembly-polls-204777">Bharatiya Janata Party also released a list of 100 candidates</a> for assembly polls in Odisha last week.&nbsp;

Damodar Rout, Kusum Tete, Prakash Behera, and K Narayan Rao, who recently joined BJP after quitting BJD, have been given tickets to contest polls in the state. Rout has been fielded from Balikuda-Ersama assembly constituency, Prakash Behera from Salepur, Kusum Tete from Sundergarh and K Narayan Rao from Paralakhemundi, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

In the 2014 Assembly elections, BJP had won 10 out of 147 seats in Odisha.&nbsp;

Odisha will go to polls in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. The state will be voting simultaneously for the 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats in Odisha.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The Congress has released its list of candidates for the upcoming assembly polls in Odisha. According to reports, the party has fielded Biren Senapati, Ramesh Purohit, Shyamghan Pradhan and Shambhunath Panigrahi from Rourkela, Patnagarh, G Udaygiri and Hinjili, respectively.

The Congress has released its list of candidates for the upcoming assembly polls in Odisha. According to reports, the party has fielded Biren Senapati, Ramesh Purohit, Shyamghan Pradhan and Shambhunath Panigrahi from Rourkela, Patnagarh, G Udaygiri and Hinjili, respectively. The Congress, last week, released its 6th list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections - seven from Maharashtra and two from Kerala, for the Lok Sabha election. With this, the party has released names of 146 candidates for the election starting on April 11. The Bharatiya Janata Party also released a list of 100 candidates for assembly polls in Odisha last week. Damodar Rout, Kusum Tete, Prakash Behera, and K Narayan Rao, who recently joined BJP after quitting BJD, have been given tickets to contest polls in the state. Rout has been fielded from Balikuda-Ersama assembly constituency, Prakash Behera from Salepur, Kusum Tete from Sundergarh and K Narayan Rao from Paralakhemundi, news agency ANI reported. In the 2014 Assembly elections, BJP had won 10 out of 147 seats in Odisha. Odisha will go to polls in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. The state will be voting simultaneously for the 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats in Odisha. (With inputs from agencies)

Congress releases list of candidates for Odisha assembly polls

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-releases-first-list-of-182-candidates-for-lok-sabha-polls-modi-to-contest-from-varanasi-again-204704">Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday released</a> another list for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls wherein Lalubhai Patel, a two-time MP from Daman and Diu, has been fielded from the Lok Sabha constituency. Patel won the Daman and Diu Lok Sabha constituency for BJP in 2009 and 2014 elections. Voting for the constituency will be held on April 23 during the third phase of polling, and counting of votes will take place on May 23.

In the meanwhile, the party also released a list of 100 candidates who will contest the assembly polls in Odisha.&nbsp;

Damodar Rout, Kusum Tete, Prakash Behera, and K Narayan Rao, who recently joined BJP after quitting BJD, have been given tickets to contest polls in the state. Rout has been fielded from Balikuda-Ersama assembly constituency, Prakash Behera from Salepur, Kusum Tete from Sundergarh and K Narayan Rao from Paralakhemundi, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

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BJP releases 2nd list of candidate for upcoming Lok Sabha elections - Lalubhai Patel to contest from Daman &amp; Diu Parliamentary constituency. The voting for the constituency will be held on 23rd April in the 3rd phase of polling. <a href="https://t.co/GsT37uknlm">pic.twitter.com/GsT37uknlm</a>
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In the 2014 Assembly elections, BJP had won 10 out of 147 seats in Odisha. Odisha will be going to polls in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. The state will be voting simultaneously for parliamentary and assembly constituencies. There are 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats in Odisha.&nbsp;

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) releases list of 100 candidates for the upcoming Odisha assembly elections. <a href="https://t.co/U3ywkecTxV">pic.twitter.com/U3ywkecTxV</a>
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Besides this, the BJP also announced the names of 10 candidates in Telangana for the upcoming Lok Sabha election. Former Congress leader and ex-Minister DK Aruna, who joined BJP in the presence of party president Amit Shah in Delhi on Tuesday, has been fielded from Mahbubnagar Lok Sabha constituency.&nbsp;

The party is yet to announce seven more candidates in Telangana. Hyderabad is touted to be the main Lok Sabha constituency for the BJP from where AIMIM party president Asaduddin Owaisi is contesting. Telangana will go to polls in a single phase for all 17 Lok Sabha seats on April 11.&nbsp;

The BJP released the first list of candidates for the upcoming polls comprising 184 candidates including some of the biggest names in the party such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party chief Amit Shah and Union ministers like Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contest from Varanasi again. BJP president Amit Shah replaced L K Advani in Gandhinagar constituency. Home Minister Rajnath Singh will contest from Lucknow.&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI)&nbsp;

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday released another list for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls wherein Lalubhai Patel, a two-time MP from Daman and Diu, has been fielded from the Lok Sabha constituency.

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday released another list for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls wherein Lalubhai Patel, a two-time MP from Daman and Diu, has been fielded from the Lok Sabha constituency. Patel won the Daman and Diu Lok Sabha constituency for BJP in 2009 and 2014 elections. Voting for the constituency will be held on April 23 during the third phase of polling, and counting of votes will take place on May 23. In the meanwhile, the party also released a list of 100 candidates who will contest the assembly polls in Odisha. Damodar Rout, Kusum Tete, Prakash Behera, and K Narayan Rao, who recently joined BJP after quitting BJD, have been given tickets to contest polls in the state. Rout has been fielded from Balikuda-Ersama assembly constituency, Prakash Behera from Salepur, Kusum Tete from Sundergarh and K Narayan Rao from Paralakhemundi, news agency ANI reported. BJP releases 2nd list of candidate for upcoming Lok Sabha elections - Lalubhai Patel to contest from Daman & Diu Parliamentary constituency. The voting for the constituency will be held on 23rd April in the 3rd phase of polling. pic.twitter.com/GsT37uknlm — ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2019 × In the 2014 Assembly elections, BJP had won 10 out of 147 seats in Odisha. Odisha will be going to polls in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. The state will be voting simultaneously for parliamentary and assembly constituencies. There are 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats in Odisha. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) releases list of 100 candidates for the upcoming Odisha assembly elections. pic.twitter.com/U3ywkecTxV — ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2019 × Besides this, the BJP also announced the names of 10 candidates in Telangana for the upcoming Lok Sabha election. Former Congress leader and ex-Minister DK Aruna, who joined BJP in the presence of party president Amit Shah in Delhi on Tuesday, has been fielded from Mahbubnagar Lok Sabha constituency. The party is yet to announce seven more candidates in Telangana. Hyderabad is touted to be the main Lok Sabha constituency for the BJP from where AIMIM party president Asaduddin Owaisi is contesting. Telangana will go to polls in a single phase for all 17 Lok Sabha seats on April 11. The BJP released the first list of candidates for the upcoming polls comprising 184 candidates including some of the biggest names in the party such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party chief Amit Shah and Union ministers like Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani. Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contest from Varanasi again. BJP president Amit Shah replaced L K Advani in Gandhinagar constituency. Home Minister Rajnath Singh will contest from Lucknow. (With inputs from ANI)

BJP announces list of 100 candidates for Odisha assembly polls 