Campaign for elections to 66 urban local bodies in the State comes to a close

The high-voltage campaign for Thursday’s elections to the 66 urban local bodies in the State came to close on Tuesday with the three major parties expressing hope that their candidates will emerge victorious.

Top leaders of the ruling Biju Janata Dal, and opposition Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party actively took part in the campaign to woo the voters. They joined roadshows organised by their local units in different urban areas and also addressed public meetings to seek the people’s support in favour of their nominees.

While Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik led the BJD’s poll campaign and extensively toured in various urban local bodies, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Jayadev Jena led his party’s campaign by travelling from one corner of the State to another. The BJP campaign was headed by party’s State president Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo.

The main fight, however, was taking place between the BJD and the Congress in a majority of ULBs.

The BJD was able to put up a good show by involving a large number of film actors, despite many senior leaders of the party opposing other in many ULBs. The Congress, which was also suffering from infighting at the State level, had managed to organise its election campaign in a successful manner with Mr. Jena leading the show. More than 18 lakh voters will cast their votes at 1968 booths in as many as 1103 wards in the 66 urban local bodies, including the Berhampur Municipal Corporation with highest number of 40 wards. A total of 3893 candidates were in the fray in the 66 ULBs going to the polls. Meanwhile, the State Election Commission had taken a series of measures to ensure free and fair poll in all the ULBs. Special squads had been deployed to prevent violation of the model code of conduct.

As a large number of polling booths had been identified as sensitive due to various reasons, necessary steps were being taken to ensure smooth polling. Additional security arrangements were being made in the ULBs in southern Odisha where Maoists were having a strong presence. A total of 561 booths had been identified as sensitive and 108 booths had been identified as hypersensitive, according to the State Election Commission.

The State government had announced Thursday as a holiday to help the voters cast their votes. All government offices, barring treasuries and sub-treasuries will remain closed on the polling day.

In fact, the State Election Commission had initially made announcement to hold polls in a total of 91 ULBs. But election was stopped in 25 ULBs spread over nine districts after the poll process was affected due to a long-drawn agitation demanding establishment of a permanent High Court bench in western Odisha.

More than 18 lakh people to cast their vote in 1,968 booths in 1,103 wards
Berhampur Municipal Corporation has the highest number of 40 wards
A total of 3893 candidates are in the fray
Special squads deployed to check violation of the model code of conduct
Additional security in place in ULBs in south Odisha, where Maoists have a strong presence