The State is all set to witness polls in the 11 lok Sabha and 77 Assembly seats in the second and final phase on Thursday amidst political parties’ aspirations that each of them would steal the show this time.
While the BJP beams with confidence to have an unprecedented result in its favour, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is confident to form Government in the State for the consecutive fourth term and to play a key role in formation of a Government at the Centre.
An estimate 1.55 crore voters would decide the fate of 98 lS and 474 Assembly candidates of 13 coastal districts. The Election Commission has made all arrangements, including tightened security measures, for a free, fair and incident free poll. Voting process would start from 7 am to 6 pm.
Besides, re-polling would be held amid tight security from 7 am to 3 pm in 22 booths. Polling was disrupted in these booths due to snatching of EVMs during the first-phase poll held April 10. Polling was held in 10 lok sabha and 70 Assembly constituencies in southern and western parts of the State. Chief Electoral Office(CEO) sources here said 406 companies of security forces, apart from 64 companies of Central armed forces, would be deployed in the second phase polling.
Naveen hopes repeat feat; BJP claims surprises
In view of the presence of left Wing Extremists in some pockets spread over three of the 13 districts, Keonjhar, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj, the election authorities have mobilized additional forces and engaged one helicopter for these areas to make the election incident free.
The authorities have also identified 2,270 booths as sensitive out of the total 18,692 polling stations and deployed 1.41 lakh employees to conduct the elections smoothly. Besides, the district authorities are also having a close vigil to prevent voters being bribed through cash, kind or liquor.
Prominent leader who will test their luck in the second phase include Union Minister Srikanta Jena, industrialist-turned-politician Baijayant Panda, Bhatruhari Mahtab, Prasanna Patsani, Pinaki Mishra, two cine stars Bijoy Mohanty and Aparajita Mohanty as lS candidates while PCC chief Jayadev Jena, Aam Odisha chief Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Helath Minister Dr Damodar Rout, law Minister Maheswar Mohanty, Govt Chief Whip Pravat Tripathy are in the fray as Assembly candidates.
Any way the second phase battle of ballots would decide the political stability of BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik who had criss-crossed the State working overtime to garner support for his party candidates.On the other hand, the BJP which started this time virtually out of nothing, was surging ahead amid the Modi wave to get unexpected results. While the saffron party expects to get at least seven of the 21 lok sabha seats, has asserted to take a formidable position in the Assembly segments.
“The results would be unexpected and unprecedented due to the Modi wave and higher percentage of voters’ turnout” said BJP State chief spokesperson Suresh Pujari adding “We will be the deciding factor in forming the Government in the State.”The BJP leader also said that this election would ensure the elimination of the Congress from the state.
Informing that in 2009 polls, the BJD had secured 37 per cent votes, Congress 33 and the BJP 17 per cent, Pujari said his party would get 33 per cent votes this time due to the Modi wave.