By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Voting for 106 Urban Local Bodies (47 Municipalities and 59 NACs) and three municipal corporations of the Odisha began at 8 am and is scheduled to continue till 5 pm. “ପ୍ରତିଟି ଭୋଟ୍ ମୂଲ୍ୟବାନ. ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ଆରମ୍ଭ ହୋଇଥିବା ପୌର ନିର୍ବାଚନରେ ବିପୁଳ ସଂଖ୍ୟାରେ ସାମିଲ ହୋଇ ଆସନ୍ତୁ ଗଣତନ୍ତ୍ରକୁ ଆହୁରି ମଜବୁତ କରିବା। ଭୋଟ୍ ଦେବା ସମୟରେ କୋଭିଡ ନିୟମ ପାଳନ ପ୍ରତି ବିଶେଷ ଧ୍ୟାନ ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ। ନିଜେ ଭୋଟ୍ ଦେବା ସହ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ଭୋଟ୍ ଦେବା ପାଇଁ ଉତ୍ସାହିତ କରନ୍ତୁ।,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in a tweet.
5T Secretary VK Pandian and his IAS wife, Sujata Kartikeyan, Mission Shakti Secretary, cast their votes at one of the polling booths in the State Capital. The Powerful IAS couple was seen standing in queue to cast their votes.
As per State election Commission office, a total of 40.55 lakh voters will exercise their franchise in the ensuing Urban Local Body (ULB) polls.
Around 22,000 officials have been deployed on poll duty and they have been asked to reach their respective polling stations by the afternoon of March 23. District administrations have made necessary arrangements for the same.
While 569 people are in fray for Mayor and Chairperson posts, 5,842 are contesting for Corporator and Councilor posts. Total 40,55,053 people will be allowed to cast their vote at total 4,373 booths from 8 am to 5 pm on the polling day. Each polling booth will have two EVMs.
The elections for 106 ULBs (47 Municipalities and 59 NACs) and three Municipal Corporations will be held in 1672 Municipality and NAC Wards and in 165 Wards of three Municipal Corporations. Counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on March 26.
