Bhubaneswar, March 24: Polling for the urban local body (ULB) elections began in 106 towns and three cities at 8 AM on Thursday morning. The polling will continue till 5 PM.
Voters have been seen standing in queues at different booths across the State to exercise franchise. More than 40.5 lakh voters will decide the fate of over 6,411 candidates in this election.
This time, two electronic voting machines (EVMs) are being used for voting. While one is being used for Coucillor/Corporator nominees, another is meant for Chairperson/Mayor candidates. Voting is being undertaken to elect Councillors and Chairpersons for 59 NACs and 47 Municipalities and to elect Corporators and Mayors in three municipal corporations of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur.
Total 195 platoons of police force have been deployed for the free and fair poll, of which 30 platoons have been deployed in Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), 20 platoons in Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) and 10 platoons in Berhampur Municipal Corporations (BeMC).
Besides, 300 mobile parties have been engaged. Out of the 300 parties, 109 units will be deployed in the three corporation towns during the election.
Of 6,411 candidates in the election fray, 569 are fighting for Chairperson/Mayor posts, while the rest 5,842 candidates are battling for Councillor/Corporator posts, according to the State Election Commission.
