Odisha assembly election 2024 Highlights: PM Modi attacks BJD govt in Odisha rally, 35.31% voter turnout till 1 pm

Reports of EVM glitches emerged from parts of Odisha, with a voter turnout of over 35 percent.

Odisha recorded 35.31 per cent voter turnout till 1 pm in the polling for five Lok Sabha constituencies and 35 Assembly segments on Monday, officials said.

Voting started at 7 am in Aska, Kandhamal, Bargarh, Bolangir and Sundergarh parliamentary constituencies along with 35 assembly segments within the jurisdiction of these Lok Sabha seats.

“The media have started saying that there will be a hung assembly, but that's not true; the BJP will form the government in Odisha. If there is something that BJD has given to Odisha, it has given land mafia, sand mafia, coal mafia and mining mafia,” PM Modi said.

Odisha recorded 35.31% voter turnout till 1 pm, according to Election Commission data.

On polling day, a member of Odisha Police's Special Operation Group sustained a bullet wound during a gunfight with Maoists in Nuapada district on Monday, a senior police officer said.

PM Modi said during his Odisha rally, “A handful of corrupt persons have grabbed the chief minister’s office and residence. Small workers of the BJD have now become crorepatis.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude to the holy city of Puri hours after holding a roadshow and said the heat did not deter the crowds from coming and blessing us.

PM Modi also appreciated the divinity and culture of the holy city and said each of these blessings inspires us to work harder for the people. (ANI)

PM Modi said in his rally in Odisha, "Hardly there will be any block in Odisha from where people have not gone to Gujarat to get a job. The state which is so prosperous, this election is to punish all those who have destroyed the state..."

"Who is responsible for the sorry state of affairs in Odisha? It is the BJD government which is under the control of some corrupt people. A handful of corrupt persons have grabbed the chief minister’s office and residence. Small workers of the BJD have now become crorepatis," the Prime Minister said.

Odisha recorded around 21 per cent voter turnout till 11 am in the polling for five Lok Sabha constituencies and 35 Assembly segments on Monday, officials said.

PM Modi said in Odisha, "Ghar-ghar se ek hi awaaj aa rahi hai - Odisha me pehali baar double engine ki sarkar'... Today the entire Odisha is thinking that they have given 25 years to the BJD govt but what they have got in these years?..."

In his address to a public gathering in Odisha's Dhenkanal, PM Narendra Modi said, "'Mai Gujarat se aaya hun, mai Somnath ki dharti se aaya hun, mai Jagannath ki dharti ko pranam karne aaya hun'..."

Odisha recorded around 6.99 per cent voter turnout in the first two hours of polling in five Lok Sabha constituencies and 35 Assembly segments on Monday, officials said.

Voting started at 7 am in Aska, Kandhamal, Bargarh, Bolangir and Sundergarh parliamentary constituencies along with 35 assembly segments within the jurisdiction of these Lok Sabha seats.

Odisha Police conducted a flag march on Sunday in Banpur region of Khordha district in the wake of the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections, scheuled to be held on May 25.

The highest voter turnout out of all the seats was recorded in Bargarh constituency, standing at 9.31 percent till 9 am.

Odisha recorded a total voter turnout of 6.83 percent till 9 am on Monday, May 20.

On the second phase of Assembly elections, 5T Chairman & BJD leader VK Pandian said, "...People have faith in BJD and BJD will sweep the second phase of elections."

BJD candidate from Sundargarh Lok Sabha seat, Dilip Tirkey said, “I appeal to the people of Sundergarh to come out and cast their vote. It is a festival of democracy and they should participate in it… Seeing the enthusiasm among the people, I can say that the voting percentage will increase here…”

Prominent leaders whose electoral fate will be decided include Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is contesting from two assembly segments (Hinjili in Ganjam district and Kantabanji in Bolangir district), six Odisha ministers, BJP MPs Sangeeta Singh Deo and Jual Oram, and former Indian hockey skipper Dilip Tirkey.

PM Narendra Modi took to X to appeal to the voters, “In the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, voting will be held today for 49 seats in 8 states and union territories. I request all the voters of this phase to cast their votes and create a new record of voting. I especially appeal to women and young voters to participate enthusiastically in this festival of democracy.”

The voting for 35 assembly seats in Odisha, as well as 5 Lok Sabha seats in the state commenced on 7 am on Monday, May 20.