Women voters outnumber men in some Odisha districts

Berhampur (Odisha), April 18: Women voters outnumbered their male counterparts in tribal dominated Kandhamal and Gajapati districts which went to the polls on April 10.

In at least four out of 13 assembly segments in Ganjam too, more women exercised their franchise, according to official sources.

In Phulbani assembly constituency of Kandhamal, 62,978 women cast their votes, which is marginally above the number of male voters - 62,346. A total 1,67,157 voters exercised their franchise in the constituency, which is 74.97 per cent of the total number of electors - 1,25,324. In G Udayagiri, a constituency reserved for ST like Phulbani, 62,959 women exercised their franchise, which is considerably above the number of male voters, which stood at 59,982.

Baliguda (ST) segment presented a similar picture. While 51,273 women exercised their democratic right, the number of male voters stood at 49,722. Total 1,00,995 voters out of 1,36,009 cast their ballots.

"Awareness drives on voting, especially in rural areas, paid off and the result is there for everyone to see," said Kandhamal Collector N Thirumala Naik. In Mohana assembly seat in Gajapati district, 70,680 women cast their votes against 67,906 male voters.

The total voters in the segment is 1,93,680. In Paralakhemundi, there were 65,551 male voters and 69,386 womwn. In Ganjam district, the female turnout was more than males in Polasara, Kabisuryanagar, Khallikote and Chikiti constituencies, sources said.

PTI