Panchayat polls: Odisha votes in second phase, close watch on Kotia at Andhra border


PTI, Feb 18, 2022, 11:31 AM IST

Polling was underway for the second phase of the panchayat elections in Odisha on Friday morning amid tight security.

The polling began at 7 am and will continue till 1 pm. Around 62.10 lakh voters are eligible to vote for 186 Zilla Parishad seats, 1,514 Panchayat Samiti seats and 20,436 wards of panchayats across 68 blocks in the state.

The security was tightened in the second phase with 240 platoons of police (1 platoon comprises 30 personnel) deployed in the wake of the violence that marked the first phase of polling on Wednesday.

As many as 50 people were injured in the first phase amid allegations of ballot-box snatching, rigging and attack on polling stations from across the state.

The State Election Commission said elaborate security arrangement has also been made in Kotia at the Andhra Pradesh border where polling is being held in the second phase.

Neighboring Andhra Pradesh allegedly attempted to disrupt polling in Kotia cluster of villages over which both the states claim ownership, officials in Bhubaneswar said.

Security personnel deployed by Odisha are staging flag marches in Kotia villages to instill confidence among the locals, they said.

Last year, Andhra Pradesh conducted panchayat polls in six of the 21 villages of Kotia.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Asaduddin Owaisi questions Waqf Bill JPC Chairman’s Karnataka visit

Kinnigoli: Truck carrying red stone collides with Auto-Rickshaw; driver injured

UP govt to install 150,000 toilets for Maha Kumbh, set up paying guest facilities

Kavoor Police arrest two notorious cattle thieves

Udupi: Unidentified body found near Bailkere’s Vidhyodaya School

Sexual harassment case cannot be closed on basis of compromise between parties: SC

MLC Ivan D’Souza defends CM Siddaramaiah’s Lokayukta appearance, criticizes BJP’s ‘Drama’ claims

Related Articles More

Congress slams BJP for objecting to colour of Constitution copy carried by Rahul Gandhi

Asaduddin Owaisi questions Waqf Bill JPC Chairman’s Karnataka visit

Felling of trees: What is being done to restore Delhi Ridge? SC asks DDA

UP govt to install 150,000 toilets for Maha Kumbh, set up paying guest facilities

Sexual harassment case cannot be closed on basis of compromise between parties: SC

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

ICC pitch ratings: Chepauk deemed ‘very good’, Kanpur outfield ‘unsatisfactory’

Congress slams BJP for objecting to colour of Constitution copy carried by Rahul Gandhi

Asaduddin Owaisi questions Waqf Bill JPC Chairman’s Karnataka visit

Felling of trees: What is being done to restore Delhi Ridge? SC asks DDA

Kinnigoli: Truck carrying red stone collides with Auto-Rickshaw; driver injured

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.