Tight security ahead of civic body polls in Odisha today
Elections will be held in 106 civic bodies and three municipal corporations in Odisha today amid tight security, officials said.
A total of 205 platoons of police have been deployed for the polling that will begin at 8 am and continue till 5 pm. One platoon comprises 20 personnel.
Polling will be held in 3,068 booths of 1,731 wards in the 106 civic bodies. In the three municipal corporations — Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur — total 168 wards will go to the polls and 1,407 booths have been set up, officials said.
Around 40.55 lakh people are eligible to exercise their franchise, State Election Commissioner AP Padhi said.
The district authorities and police have been keeping strict vigil, he said, appealing to the people to cast their votes without any fear.
Security arrangements have also been made in the strong rooms with CCTV coverage to ensure round-the-clock safety of EVMs, police said.
As many as 6,411 candidates are in the fray, officials said.
Two EVMs will be used in each booth — one to elect mayor/chairperson and another to elect corporators and councillors. For the first time in the urban polls, there will be a NOTA option for voters, they said.