Odisha: BJP, BJD Supporters Clash In Rourkela Amid Fifth Phase Voting

Clashes between BJP and BJD supporters were reported at a polling booth in the Rourkela Assembly constituency earlier today.

A clash was reported between BJP, BJD workers at a polling booth in Odisha's Rourkela. (Representational Image)

Source : PTI Images

Clashes erupted between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supporters marred the Odisha Assembly and Lok Sabha elections 2024's fifth phase voting at a polling booth in the Rourkela Assembly constituency earlier today, news agency PTI reported on Monday. Further details into the matter are awaited. 

VIDEO | Odisha Assembly Elections 2024: BJP and BJD supporters clashed at a polling booth in Rourkela Assembly constituency earlier today. More details awaited. #OdishaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/Gjc9ULqJYO

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 20, 2024

Voting Reaches 60.55% In Odisha

Odisha recorded a 60.55 per cent voter turnout by 5 PM in the polling for five Lok Sabha constituencies and 35 Assembly seats, news agency PTI reported citing officials. Voting commenced at 7 AM in the Aska, Kandhamal, Bargarh, Bolangir, and Sundergarh parliamentary constituencies, along with their corresponding Assembly segments. 

Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were held simultaneously across Odisha. However, disturbances affected voting in some areas. Voting was halted at a booth under the Kantamal Assembly segment in the Kandhamal Parliamentary Constituency after disruptions were caused by some individuals, N B Dhal, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha told PTI. 

A presiding officer at a booth in the Kantamal Assembly segment was taken into custody after irregularities were discovered, he added. 

In a separate incident, a man was murdered near Sarsara under the Sadar police limits in Bargarh district. The CEO clarified that the incident was not related to poll violence but a crime that occurred outside the polling station. 

"near Sarsara under Sadar police limits in Bargarh district, the CEO said: "It is not a poll violence, but an incident of crime had taken place outside the polling station. The local police have managed the situation as the incident created some tension in the booth. polling was not affected because of the incident," he told PTI. 

Dhal assured that polling was peaceful across all 9,162 booths though some faulty Electronic Voting Machines were replaced. The highest polling percentage among the five Lok Sabha seats was recorded in Bargarh at 66.14%, followed by Sundergarh (61.53%), Bolangir (61.35%), Kandhamal (57.46%), and Aska (55.65%). 

Among the 35 Assembly constituencies, Sonepur recorded the highest polling at 71.35%, while the lowest was 47.80% in the Surada Assembly segment of Ganjam district. 

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