Bhubaneswar: Panchayati Raj Minister Pratap Jena cast his vote for the first time ever in the three-tier Odisha Panchayat Elections in Mahanga constituency of Cuttack district.
Reportedly, Minister Pratap Jena voted at booth number 11 of Jaleswarpur Panchayat under Mahanga constituency. His wife Daisy Jena, son Ankit Pratap Jena, and daughter Aishwarya Pratap Jena also voted at the same booth.
Minister Pratap Jena’s personal assistant Umashankar Biswal also cast his vote at the same center.
It is to be noted that earlier he has been giving his vote in the Urban Polls of Cuttack Municipal Corporation.
The voting has begun at 7 am and it will continue till 1 pm in three blocks including Narsinghpur, Cuttack Sadar and, Mahanga. The polls will be held in five phases on February 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24.
More than 67.51 lakh eligible voters will cast their votes for the candidates fighting for the position of Zilla Parishad members, sarpanches, Panchayat Samiti members, and ward members in Odisha.
The voting will be carried out at 22,379 wards and 1,669 panchayats across the state, added reports. As many as 3,357 have been identified as sensitive in the first phase.
At the time of polling, each voter is required to produce an Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) or any of the 13 other ID proofs approved by the State Election Commission.
Notably, the Covid positive voters will be allowed to cast their votes during the last hour of polling with strict adherence to coronavirus protocols.
Ms Kalinga