Moderate thunderstorm with gusty wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph and lightning and light to moderate rain are likely to affect some parts of districts of Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal within next three hours, said a release issued by the India Meteorological Department at
A 47-year-old dwarf woman named Vinita Seth climbed a chair to cast her vote at a polling booth at Patnagarh in Balangir Lok Sabha constituency in Odisha on Monday.
The fifth round of the Lok Sabha elections for 49 parliamentary constituencies saw a cumulative voter turnout of 47.53 per cent till 3 pm, as per the data shared by the Election Commission.
Hockey India president and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate from Sundargarh Lok Sabha seat Dilip Tirkey asked the people from his constituency to come out and cast their vote in the fifth phase of the ongoing polls.
While addressing a rally in Cuttack, PM Modi claimed that the people of Odisha will create a new history by electing the BJP's first Chief Minister in the state.
Lashing out at ruling Biju Janata Dal led by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that a double double engine government is going to be formed for the first time in non-BJP ruled state.
Prime Minister Modi said that four members of the Gandhi family, including former Prime Ministers Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi fiddled with the Constitution for their own political goals.
While Bihar recorded 8.86 per cent voter turnout, Jammu and Kashmir recorded 7.63 per cent, Jharkhand 11.68 per cent, Ladakh 10.51 per cent, Maharashtra 6.33 per cent Odisha 6.87 per cent and West Bengal 15.35 per cent, the poll body said.
On Monday morning, voting began across 35 Assembly seats and 5 Lok Sabha constituencies amid tight security and arrangements. Bharatiya Janata Party MLA candidate from Rourkela Assembly Constituency, Dilip Ray, cast the first vote at the Sundargarh booth in Rourkela district of Odisha.
Hundreds of people lined up on both sides of the road and on terraces to get a glimpse of the Prime Minister, waving cut-out Modi posters and waving the party flag.
"The purpose of the flag march is to enable people to vote fearlessly. Those creating ruckus will be dealt with strictly. We have 153 booths in 71 locations, and CAPF will be deployed on all booths as per the instructions of the ECI," an official said.