Akshaya Tritiya: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Performs ‘Akhi Muthi Anukula’ Ritual In Sambalpur

The voter turnout figure is most likely to cross the 70 per cent mark after the final computation following receipt of details about polling statistics from all the booths.

Reports from Bargarh said an auto-rickshaw driver was killed by two persons at Sarsara village while he was carrying some voters on his vehicle to the polling booth. The deceased was identified as Biswanath Mirdha.

Family members of the deceased alleged that it was a political murder executed by the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Inspector General of Police, Himanshu Lal said the murder took place because of “personal enmity” between the deceased and the accused.

Local BJD assembly candidate Debesh Acharya said the reason behind the murder will be ascertained after the police investigation.

The broad daylight killing sparked tension in the area for quite some time. The family members of the deceased and others created ruckus and demanded an immediate halt of voting in the village. The police, however, handled the situation quite well by whisking away the family members and other agitated people from the crime spot.

Reports said tension prevailed at Turum village in Ganjam district as a clash erupted between BJD and BJP after alleged booth rigging attempts by BJD workers. The incident occurred at booth no 47 of Beruanbadi village under Turum police limits.

The voting was initially peaceful since morning. However, some BJD workers allegedly entered the booth for rigging. A clash erupted inside the booth when the BJP agents opposed the BJD workers. Irate over this, the BJD workers allegedly attacked the BJP workers. The entire act has been captured on a mobile camera.

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Addressing public meetings in Dhenkanal and Cuttack Lok Sabha seats after holding a roadshow in Puri this morning, PM Modi launched a scathing attack on Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his close aide VK Pandian.

“A handful of corrupt persons have captured the CM's residence and office. Small workers of the BJD have now become crorepatis," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister said a mafia in Odisha is controlling everything and not allowing anyone to compete. “Once BJP comes to power on June 10, its backbone will be broken,” he said.

PM Modi said though the state is rich in mineral resources, its people are distressed. He alleged that the BJD government is not allowing the people of Odisha to benefit from the state's mineral wealth.

Stating that Odisha received Rs 26,000 crore from the district mineral fund (DMF), PM Modi said the money should have been spent on roads, schools and drinking water, but the BJD government has misused it.

Raising the issue of Ratna Bhandar, the treasure trove of Shree Jagannath temple in Puri, PM Modi said people are discussing how the keys of Ratna Bhandar have gone to Tamil Nadu.

“When our keys of houses are lost, we pray to Lord Jagannath and find them within one or two hours with the Lord’s blessing. But the keys of Lord Jagannath Ratna Bhandar are missing, and it has been six years now. The report of the commission of inquiry into the missing keys of Ratna Bhandar has been suppressed for six years as the keys have gone to Tamil Nadu," he said.

“The BJD government and those who have captured the Chief Minister are directly responsible for this,” he alleged.

"I assure the people that once the BJP government comes to power, the entire truth will come out and we will make the report public. Our service to Lord Jagannath will begin from this work,” he added.

On raising of paddy MSP, PM Modi said, "Once BJP forms government in Odisha, paddy MSP per quintal will be increased to Rs 3,100 and within 48 hours, farmers will get the money credited to their bank account,"

PM Modi reiterated that a double-engine government will be formed in the state after the elections.

“Vote for BJP, and Modi guarantees that any son or daughter of Odisha will be made the chief minister of Odisha. The dual engine government will be sworn in on June 10 in Odisha," PM Modi said. 

Notably, the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections are being held simultaneously in the state in four phases from May 13 to June 1.

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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.

Officials said of the five LS seats, the highest 66.14 per cent polling was recorded in Bargarh parliamentary seat followed by Sundergarh (61.53%), Bolangir (61.35%), Kandhanmal (57.46%) and Aska (55.65%) till 5 PM.

Among the 35 assembly constituencies, Sonepur recorded 71.35 per cent polling, while the lowest polling of 47.80 per cent was recorded at Surada assembly segment in Ganjam district.

Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are being held simultaneously in Odisha.

The remaining phases of the polls will continue until June 1, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4.