65 per cent turnout in second phase Panchayat poll in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Feb 15 (UNI) An estimated 65 per cent of the 59.98 lakh voters today exercised their franchise during the second phase of polling for the three-tier panchayat elections in Orissa.

State Election Commission (SEC) office sources here claimed that barring some stray incidents,the polling was by and large peaceful all over the state.

The SEC had ordered for repolling in 25 booths following complaints of rigging and other disturbances during the polling.

These included 7 booths in Kendrapada, 6 in Jajpur, 5 in Koraput,3 in Boudh, 2 each in Mayurbhanj and Puri and one in Nabarangpur districts.

In the second phase elections, the electorates would elect 217 Zilla Parishad member spread over all the 30 districts, 1553 Panchayat Samitee members, 1553 Sarpanch and 21 932 ward members.

The first phase elections to the three-tier Panchayat bodies in Orissa also ended peacefully on February 13 last with an estimated 55 per cent of the 58.88 lakh voters exercising their franchise despite heavy rains in most parts of the state.

The SEC had also ordered repolling in 63 booths where polling could not be held due to poll violence and other factors during the first phase of elections. While in 62 booths, the repolling would be held on February 20 next, the 10 polling booths in the naxalite -dominated Malkangiri district would go for repoll on February 22.

Repolling in one booth under Jeypore block in Koraput district would be held on February 19 next.

UNI