Odisha Panchayat elections: 73 percent turnout in second phase

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Bhubaneswar: Barring stray incidents, the second phase of the three-tier panchayat polls concluded peacefully across Odisha on Wednesday with 73 percent voter turnout.

The first phase poll held on February 13, recorded 71 per cent turnout.

"The state witnessed 73 per cent turnout in the second phase panchayat polls. While Dhenkanal district recorded the highest turnout of 83 per cent, Malkangiri district recorded the lowest with 60 percent," State Election Commissioner (SEC) R.N. Senapati told reporters here.

He said they have received information about poll violence at some places in the state.

"We have received information about poll violence including booth rigging, ballot box looting and boycott of voting. We have sought a detailed report from district collectors. Repolling will be held after getting a report from the collectors," Senapati added.

The voting began at 7 a.m. and concluded at 12 p.m. However, the voters, who were in queue, cast their franchise even after the deadline.

The voting was held for 175 Zilla Parishad zones, 1,386 Gram Panchayats having 18,581 wards under 65 blocks of 29 districts except Deogarh.

The SEC made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the polls, with CCTV cameras installed at all the sensitive and hyper-sensitive booths.