Andhra Pradesh, Odisha Election 2024 highlights: Voter turnout crosses 69 per cent in Andhra

Voter turnout has crossed 69 per cent in Andhra Pradesh.

The first phase of Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Odisha on Monday was peaceful barring some sporadic incidents of violence, with a voter turnout of over 64 per cent, officials said.

The electoral fate of 280 candidates contesting in four Lok Sabha seats and 28 assembly segments in the first phase was sealed in the EVM.

The polling was by and large peaceful barring some sporadic incidents in Ganjam and Nabarangpur districts, while two persons were injured in a clash between rival groups during polling in Chikiti assembly segment, a police official said.

Odisha records a voter turnout of over 65%.

The body of a government official was found on railway tracks in Odisha's Keonjhar district on Monday, police said.

The deceased, identified as 49-year-old Bidubhushan Jena, was serving as the additional block development officer of Harichandanpur block in Keonjhar district, a police officer said.

Theme-based polling stations, modelled on train coaches to bus ticket counters, welcomed voters in Odisha's Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency, which went to polls on Monday, officials said.

As many as 272 out of 1,131 polling stations in five assembly segments in Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency were modeled on various themes, they said.

"These polling stations were modelled on themes to attract voters to exercise their franchise," Dibya Jyoti Parida, Ganjam’s District Electoral Officer cum Collector said.

The electoral contest in Sambalpur is not just a fight to win a Lok Sabha seat and seven assembly constituencies that are part of it. It is emblematic of the larger battle for power in Odisha, playing out as a fight between two formidable opponents and the scramble to change the narrative and sentiment on the ground. The elections to choose a parliamentary lawmaker from Sambalpur and legislators from the seven assembly segments will be held on May 25. Read More

A voter turnout of nearly 63 per cent was recorded on Monday in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections covering 96 constituencies spread over 10 states and Union Territories, with scattered incidents of violence reported in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.

West Bengal again recorded an impressive turnout at 75.94 per cent, the highest among states/UTs in this phase.

Odisha recorded a voter turnout of 64%  in assembly elections on Monday.

YSRCP and TDP workers clashed near Narasaraopet Municipal High School polling station in Palnadu district of Andhra Pradesh and police fired rubber bullets to control the situation here on Monday.

The workers were also seen destroying cars that were parked at the side of the roads near the polling booth.

Polling for 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh was conducted today. The campaign leading up to the voting was intense. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, and other leaders gave passionate speeches.

The YSR Congress focused on the welfare programs they did in the last five years. The NDA talked about the state government's failures and promised help if they win. PM Modi, Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Rahul Gandhi campaigned for their parties. Read More

Over 63% voter turnout was recorded in Odisha.

About 62.31 per cent voter turnout was recorded as of 5 pm across the 96 constituencies in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Monday, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

West Bengal recorded 75.66 per cent voter turnout, which is the highest as of 5 pm today, followed by Andhra Pradesh at 68.04 per cent and Madhya Pradesh at 68.01 per cent. The lowest was recorded in Jammu and Kashmir, 35.75 per cent.

Odisha's Chief Electoral Officer Nikunja Bihari Dhal on Monday suspended three polling officials and directed the police to arrest two of them for "serious dereliction of duty".

Speaking to reporters, Dhal said, "We have directed the Ganjam collector to suspend three presiding officers of three polling booths and arrest two of them for serious dereliction of duty."

Over 62% voter turnout was recorded in Odisha till 5pm.

The voter turnout was recorded at approximately 52.6 per cent till 3 pm across 10 States/Union Territories in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Monday, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

As voters headed to the polling booths during Phase 4 of the elections, Hyderabad-based IT company, Ray Business Technologies (a CMMI Level 3 certified company), took a thoughtful step to provide relief from the scorching heat. They distributed umbrellas to voters in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, ensuring that voters could cast their ballots comfortably.

Amidst speculation surrounding the announcement of BJP's chief ministerial candidate, the party's Odisha unit chief, Manmohan Samal, on Monday said the party's parliamentary committee will take a decision on the matter.

Samal made the remark during a press conference, attended by senior leaders including Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, former Union minister and Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi.

“They (BJD) should think about their own party rather than focusing on us. The BJD lacks a proper leader while an agent is running the regional party. Our parliamentary committee will decide the BJP’s CM candidate,” he said.

Prominent actors from the Telugu film industry were out to vote on Monday for the elections in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Chiranjeevi, NT Rama Rao, Allu Arjun, Brahmanandam, Nani, Jeevitha Rajasekhar, Rajendra Prasad, Naga Chaitanya, Manchu Manoj and Srikanth were among actors from the Telugu film industry who cast their vote in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Andhra Pradesh recorded over 55% voter turnout till 3 pm.

Andhra Pradesh, Odisha Election 2024 LIVE: Odisha recorded over 52% voter turnout in till 3 pm.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge will visit Odisha on May 15 and May 16, respectively to address election rallies.

Briefing media persons here, AICC in-charge of Odisha, Ajoy Kumar on Monday said Gandhi is scheduled to address an election rally in Bolangir on May 15.

He will arrive here at Bhubaneswar airport at around 11 am and then directly proceed to Bolangir to address a public meeting at around 11.30 am, Kumar said.

Union Minister and the BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Odisha's Sambalpur urged people to demonstrate their electoral support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and vote him back for a third, straight term in office in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

The Union Minister also exhorted the people to vote in favour of a 'double-engine' government in the state. The Lok Sabha and assembly elections are being held simultaneously in the eastern state.

Hindupur TDP MLA candidate and film star Balakrishna cast his vote along with his wife Vasundhara at a polling station in Hindupur.

BJP on Monday accused ruling YSR Cong in Andhra Pradesh of attacking NDA workers to influence polls, said that EC and police are acting as 'mute spectators'.

Odisha recorded a total voter turnout of 39.30 percent till 1 pm in Phase 4 of the polls, with the highest voter percent recorded in Kalahandi (42.67%).