Odisha will go to polls in four phases throughout April 2019. The first phase is scheduled for April 11, the second is scheduled for April 18 while the third and fourth phases will be held on April 23 and April 29 respectively. The state has 147 assembly constituencies and 21 Lok Sabha constituencies and polling will be held simultaneously in four phases. The counting of votes will be on May 23. The Khallikote, Aska, Surada, Sanakhemundi Assembly constituencies in Odisha will go to poll in the second phase on April 18 while polling in the Nayagarh constituency will be held on April 23, which means in the third phase. Odisha Assembly Elections 2019 Schedule: Polling for All 147 Seats in four phases, Counting of Votes on May 23.

In Odisha, there will be tough fight between the incumbent Biju Janata Dal (BJD) headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) and Indian National Congress Party this time.

All You Need to Know About Khallikote, Aska, Surada, Sanakhemundi, Nayagarh Assembly Constituencies:

Khallikote:  This is a Vidhan Sabha constituency of Ganjam district in Odisha. This constituency includes Khallikote, Purusottampur, Khallikote block and 10 Gram panchayats (Achuli, Handighar, K.N Pur, Pratappur, Ranajhali, Raipur, Solaghara, Jagannathpur, Baghala, Bhatakumarada, Sunathara, Badabaragam, Bhimpur, Gangadehuni and Jamuni) of Purusottampur block.

For the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP has fielded Bharati Behera from this constituency while the Congress has given its ticket to Bhokali Sethi. The ruling BJD has given its ticket to Suryamani Baidya. In 2014 election, Biju Janata Dal candidate Purna Chandra Sethy defeated Indian National Congress candidate Pandaba Jalli by a margin of 57.194 votes.

Aska: Aska is a Vidhan Sabha constituency of Ganjam district which includes Aska, Aska block and 12 GPs (Subalaya, Kaniari, Barida, Paikajamuna, Sunapalli, Sialia, Nandiagada, Borasingi, Ambapua, Baliasara, Bolasara and Sunarijhola)of Kabisuryanagar block. For 2019 Assembly polls, the BJP has given its ticket to Debaraj Mohanty while Manoj Kumar Jena of the Congress will contest the election from this seat and Manjula Swain of the BJD will contest fro this constituency. In 2014 election, Biju Janata Dal candidate Debaraj Mohanty defeated Indian National Congress candidate Saroj Kumar Padhi by 23,499 votes.

Surada:  Surada is a Vidhan Sabha constituency of Ganjam district that includes Surada NAC, Belaguntha NAC, Surada Block and Belaguntha Block. For the 2019 assembly polls, the BJP has fielded Nilamani Bisoyi from this constituency while the Congress has given its ticket to Sangram Keshari Mohanty.

The BJD has given its ticket to Purna Chandra Swain while Independent candidate Nirakara Nayak will contest from this constituency. In the last elections held in 2014, Biju Janata Dal candidate Purna Chandra Swain defeated Indian National Congress candidate Basanta Kumar Bisoyi by  16,000 votes.

Sanakhemundi: This Vidhan Sabha constituency of Ganjam district comprises of  Sanakhemundi block and Dharakote block. In the run up for the upcoming assembly polls in the state, BJP has fielded Bijaya Kumar Swain from the Sanakhemundi constituency while the Congress has given its ticket to Ramesh Chandra Jena

The ruling BJD has given the ticket to Nandini Devi from this constituency while the BSP has fielded Gariba Naik from the Sanakhemundi consituency. In the 2014 election, Biju Janata Dal candidate Nandini Devi defeated  Congress candidate Ramesh Chandra Jena by 8,222 votes.

Nayagarh: Voting in the Nayagarh constituency will take place in the third phase on April 23. This constituency includes Nayagarh, Nayagarh block and 17 Gram panchayats (Sunamuhin, Panderipada, Giridipali, Kurala, Rabigadia, Pantikhari, Korapitha, Sakeri, Sardhapur, Nandighora, Goudaput, Komanda, Rohibanka, Machhipada, Banthapur, Ranganipatna and Odagaon) of Odagaon block. For the 2019 polls, Irani Ray of the BJP and Aruna Kumar Sahoo of teh BJD will face a tough fight. In 2014 election, Biju Janata Dal candidate Arun Kumar Sahoo defeated Congress candidate Lala Manoj Kumar Ray by 20,867 votes

In March, the EC had announced that voting across the country will be held on April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19. Polling in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections 2019. During the upcoming elections, a total of 91 constituencies will go for polls in first phase, 97 in second phase, 115 in third phase, 71 in fourth, 51 in fifth, and 59 each in sixth and seventh phase from April 11 to May 19. Assembly Elections 2019 Schedule: Voting in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim on April 11; Odisha To Witness 4-Phase Polls.

In the 2014 election, Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had won 117 seats, while the Congress was the second largest party with 16 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had managed to win only 10 of the 147 seats in Odisha.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 05, 2019 04:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).