Nearly 71 per cent voters turned up to exercise their franchise in the first phase of the panchayat elections in the State on Monday amid stray incidents of violence, including looting of ballot boxes in some places. "Barring some stray incidents of violence, the polling passed off peacefully with 71 per cent turnout," said State Election Commissioner (SEC) Rabi Narayan Senapati.
Elections were held in 188 Zilla Parishad zones, 1,506 gram panchayats and 20,369 wards under 65 blocks in 29 districts on the day. Subarnapur district recorded the highest 84.3-per cent polling while Balangir witnessed the lowest turnout of 60 per cent, said Senapati.
He informed, "Incidents of violence and ballot box looting were reported from some places, following which polls have not been conducted there. The Collectors of the concerned districts have been asked to submit reports. Action will be taken accordingly after examining the reports," he said.
The polling ended at 12 noon and while the counting began at 1 pm.
Even though elaborate security arrangements were made to ensure a smooth conduct of the elections, violence was reported from some places including Khordha, Kendrapada, Boudh and Puri districts.
Around 1.10 lakh police personnel and Government officials were deployed during the polling. Meanwhile, campaigning for the second-phase poll scheduled on Wednesday ended on Monday afternoon.
The polling would be held for 175 Zilla Parishad zones, 1,386 gram panchayats and 18, 581 wards in 65 blocks of 29 districts in which 53,62,814 voters would participate.
"Out of the 175 ZP posts, election would be held for 174 as one ZP member of Polsara has already been elected uncontested," said SEC Secretary Rabindra Nath Sahu.