Bhubaneswar, April 29: The voting for the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Odisha concluded today. The polling was being held in six parliamentary constituencies – Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur. A total of 64.05 percent voter turnout was recorded in the state. A total 95,14,884 voters, including 49,08,575 men, 46,05,694 women and 615 members of the third gender, were eligible to exercise their franchise in the third phase for which 10,792 polling booths were set up.

The state witnessed a triangular contest between, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. There were a total of 51 candidates in the fray in six Lok Sabha seats Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara and jagatsinghpur - that went to polls in the fourth phase. The key constituency was Kendrapara from where former BJD MP Baijayant Panda. This time hecontested on the BJP ticket. Lok Sabha Elections 2019 Phase 4: Six Key Electoral Battles to Watch Out in This Round of Polls.

The general elections in Odisha took place in four phases. In the first phase four constituencies went for the polls on April 11, while in the second phase on April 18, the polling was held in five constituencies. Meanwhile, six constituencies went for polling in the third phase on April 23. Odisha Lok Sabha Elections 2019 Schedule: Constituency-Wise Dates Of Voting And Results For General Elections.

Assembly elections in Odisha also took place simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections 2019. In the fourth phase, 43 assembly seats went for polls including Patruka assembly seat, where the polling was postponed from Aprom April 23 to April 29 due to the death of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate Bed Prakash Agarwalla. The counting of votes will take place on May 23 and the same day results will be declared.

Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in an interview to news agency ANI, expressed willingness for an open post-poll alliance with any political party who works for the development of the state. He had said, “Any party or coalition who supports the development and the just claims of Odisha will have our support.” Patnaik also rejected reports of anti-incumbency playing a key role in the ongoing elections.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 29, 2019 08:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).