Bhubaneswar, May 11: Election campaigning is going to end on Saturday evening in almost four districts in Odisha as count down for the ‘silence period’ has already begun ahead of the first phase of the General and Assembly elections scheduled on May 13(Monday).
Thus, the leaders, who were hitting the campaign trails in Koraput, Kalahandi, Nabrangpur and Berhampur area, are hurried to wrap off their party campaigns as the silence period imposed under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Odisha is set to hold the first phase of its simultaneous elections before less than 48 hours. Polling in 4 Lok Sabha constituencies spread across the districts of Koraput, Kalahandi, Nabrangpur and part of Ganjam is going to be held on coming Monday.
Source said the ruling BJD and its prime opposition BJP and Congress have refrained the leaders and party workers from the high voltage campaign.
Before the silence period, PM Modi hit the campaign trail for the BJP at Kandhamal, Balangir and Bargarh and addressed people in public meetings. He appealed the people to vote for the safron party and bring in double-engine government.
On the other hand, the BJD has almost drawn off its leaders and star campaigners from the designated zones.
Sources said, BJD top leader and 5T Chairman VK Pandian today campaigned for the candidates in Sundargarh, which will be going to election later. Pandian in an array of rallies and public meetings in the Bonai area in the afternoon, appealed the localsto vote for the BJD. Among others MP candidate from Sundargarh Dilip Tirkey also joined the campaign.
With the first phase election afoot, state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Nikunja Bihari Dhal reviewed the poll preparedness
As many as 7303 polling parities have begun leaving for their polling booths to conduct elections in the scheduled 4 Lok Sabha constituencies and 28 Assembly segments, Dhal briefed in a press meet held today.
