Andhra Pradesh, Odisha Elections 2024: Voting Begins For 203 Assembly Seats

During the fourth phase, assembly elections will be held in 28 seats in Odisha and 175 seats in Andhra Pradesh.

Polling preparations underway ahead of the phase four polling in Berhampur, West Bengal on May 12. ( Image Source :PTI )

As the nation goes to polling during the fourth phase of polling today, voters have started exercising their franchise for simultaneous elections in four Lok Sabha constituencies and 28 assembly segments in Odisha and all 175 assembly segments in Andhra Pradesh, along with 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

The fourth phase comes at a time when the Election Commission confronted Congress for raising doubts of electoral manipulation by a section of the I.N.D.I.A bloc.

Ahead of the polling, EC made elaborate arrangements to ensure free and fair polling across the 96 parliamentary constituencies on May 13.

28 Assembly Segments To Go To Polling In Odisha

In Odisha, twin voting will be held today with four Lok Sabha constituencies including Berhampur, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi and 28 assembly segments that come under the jurisdiction of these parliamentary seats.

The fate of 37 candidates will be locked today for the Lok Sabha polls, and 243 nominees who are contesting for the 28 assembly seats.

Bharatiya Janata Party, Biju Janata Dal, and Congress are contesting in all the constituencies. Besides this, nominees of some small and regional parties along with independent candidates are also in the fray.

Voting began at 7 AM across 7,303 polling stations for four Lok Sabha seats and their assembly segments, and will conclude by 6 PM.

However, in some remote places, where Maoist acitivities are a critical factor, voting is scheduled to end at 4 PM and 5 PM.

Out of the 62.87 lakh electors, 31.89 lakh women are eligible to vote in the first round of the twin polls. In the fourth phase, the number of eligible women voters is more than 30.97 lakh men electors in phase one polling in the state, the CEO told PTI.

Odisha Congress chief Sarat Patnaik, state ministers Jagannath Saraka, Rajendra Dholkia and Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das are contesting in the assembly polls. Additionally, former chief secretary Bijay Patnaik, former leader of opposition Pradipta Naik, Congress MLAs Taraprasad Bahinipati and Adhiraj Panigrahi, ex-minister DS Mishra, and former MLA Ramesh Chandra Chayupattnaik are also contesting in the assembly elections.

As the voting commenced, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "Assembly Elections commence in Odisha today. I call upon the people of this state to cast their franchise in large numbers. Your vote is your voice—let it be heard loudly and clearly."

 

Assembly Elections commence in Odisha today. I call upon the people of this state to cast their franchise in large numbers. Your vote is your voice—let it be heard loudly and clearly.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 13, 2024

Polling To Be Held At All 175 Assembly Segments In Andhra Pradesh

Polling has also began in Andhra Pradeh to elect the 175- member assembly and also 25 Lok Sabha seats from the state. 

Those among the assembly race include YSRCP president Jagan (Pulivendula), TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu (Kuppam) and Janasena chief and actor Pawan Kalyan (Pithapuram).   

The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) is contesting in all 175 Assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha segments in the state.

As part of a seat sharing deal among NDA partners, the TDP was allocated 144 Assembly seats while the BJP will contest from 10 Assembly seats. Meanwhile, the Janasena will contest 21 Assembly seats and two Lok Sabha.

To ensure smooth conduct of the polls, the Election Commission has deployed 1.06 lakh security personnel, including 3,500 Karnataka police, 1,614 ex-servicemen, 4,500 Tamil Nadu police, and 246 retired police personnel, among others.    

The polling started at 7 AM and will end at 6 PM in the state, barring a few places where it is will conclude one or two hours before.

The total number of voters in Andhra Pradesh is 4.14 crore, including 2.02 crore male, 2.1 crore female, 3,421 third gender voters and 68,185 service electors.  

According to Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer MK Meena, 454 candidates are in the fray for Lok Sabha and 2,387 for Assembly polls.         

In 2019, the YSRCP won 151 seats, TDP won 23, and Janasena-1 in the last Assembly polls. The Chandrababu Naidu-led party emerged victorious in 22 assembly seats and in three Lok Sabha seats.

Ahead of the polling, Chief Electoral Officer, Andhra Pradesh, posted on X: "Around 500,000+ Personnel are involved in various elections duties in AP and have done their part and now it’s time for you…. !! It's time for you to exercise your democratic right. Every vote counts! Head to the polls tomorrow and cast your vote. Let your voice be heard!"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, urged the people of Andhra Pradesh, especially first time voters, to vote in record numbers in the Assembly Elections. "May these polls further enhance our democratic spirit," he wrote on X.

Urging the people of Andhra Pradesh, especially first time voters, to vote in record numbers in the Assembly Elections. May these polls further enhance our democratic spirit.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 13, 2024