Assembly Elections News Highlights: Voting for the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha assembly elections alongside the Lok Sabha elections concluded on Monday evening. In Andhra Pradesh, voting, held on all 175 Assembly seats, saw a voter turnout of 78.36 per cent while Odisha, where voting took place in 28 legislative Assembly seats, saw a turnout of 73.97 per cent.
Andhra Pradesh witnessed a contest among the ruling YSRCP, Congress-led INDIA bloc and the NDA — comprising BJP, TDP and Jana Sena Party. Notable contenders include YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy, TDP’s N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena chief and actor Pawan Kalyan. Some incidents of violence and clash at the polling booths in the state were also reported.
Meanwhile, in Odisha voting was mostly peaceful with the focus on four Lok Sabha and 28 assembly seats. Heavyweight leaders from BJD, BJP and Congress were vying for victory among a total of 37 MP candidates and 243 MLA candidates in this phase. Polling covered constituencies like Nabarangpur, Koraput, Kalahandi, and Berhampur.
Assembly elections 2024 Highlights: Voting on 175 seats in Andhra Pradesh and 28 seats in Odisha today. Stay tuned for all election-related live updates.
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Andhra Pradesh recorded 78.36 per cent voter turnout in the elections to its 175-member state Legislative Assembly on Monday.
Meanwhile, Odisha recorded a voter turnout of 73.97 per cent in the first phase of elections on 28 seats out of the 147-member State Legislative Assembly.
Andhra Pradesh records 55.49 per cent voter turnout till 3 pm in the elections to its 175-member state Legislative Assembly.
Odisha recorded a voter turnout of 52.91 per cent till 3 pm in the first phase of elections to its State Legislative Assembly.
Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer, accompanied by his wife Sameera Nazeer, cast votes at a polling booth in Vijayawada during the fourth phase of polling for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections on Monday morning.
The duo cast their ballot at the Green Polling Station in Vijayawada, ANI reported.
Andhra Pradesh records 40.26 per cent voter turnout till 1 pm in the elections to its 175-member state Legislative Assembly.
Odisha recorded a voter turnout of 39.30 per cent till 1 pm in the first phase of elections to its State Legislative Assembly.
YSR Congress Party MLA, A Sivakumar, slapped a voter after he allegedly objected to the legislator jumping the queue at a polling station in Guntur on Monday. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media.
Andhra Pradesh records 23 per cent voter turnout till 11 am in the elections to its 175-member state Legislative Assembly.
Odisha recorded a voter turnout of 23.28 per cent till 11 am in the first phase of elections to its State Legislative Assembly.
Commissioner of Police (CP) Ravi Shankar Ayyanar in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, said, "Elections are being held here in Visakhapatnam city, more than 5000 personnel are deployed here. EVMs are working everywhere and voting is going on peacefully in all seven constituencies...We have made elaborate security arrangements, so I urge all voters to go and vote for the best person, best party...''
After casting her vote on Monday, former Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu's wife Nara Bhuvaneswari appealed to the women voters and said, "...I want the women to come out and vote because women have faced a lot of atrocities with this present government. I want them to come and vote for TDP, for their government - the people's government - because TDP is always for the people. It doesn't suppress anyone from voicing their opinion. TDP works for the people's government..."
As voting for the first phase of Assembly elections on 28 seats got underway in Odisha, the voter turnout was recorded at 9.25 per cent till 9 am, according to ECI data.
The voting on 175 seats for Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh saw a voter turnout of 9.21 per cent till 9 am, according to Election Commission data.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mukesh Kumar Meena on Monday said three TDP polling agents who were allegedly kidnapped in Chittoor district have been traced and secured, according to PTI.
The TDP agents were kidnapped from Bokaramanda village in Chittoor district's Sadum mandal, which falls under the Punganuru Assembly constituency, according to a press release from the CEO's office.
Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu said, “I have never seen such a crowd during my political career. People have come from America, Bengaluru, Chennai to cast their votes... People want to protect democracy and their future...”
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday cast his vote at Bhakarapuram in Pulivendula constituency in Andhra Pradesh. Voting is taking place on all 175 Assembly seats in the state.
As voting for the 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly began, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to vote in record numbers.
He took to X and said, "Urging the people of Andhra Pradesh, especially first time voters, to vote in record numbers in the Assembly Elections. May these polls further enhance our democratic spirit."
He also urged people in Odisha to come out and vote. He said on X, "Assembly Elections commence in Odisha today. I call upon the people of this state to cast their franchise in large numbers. Your vote is your voice—let it be heard loudly and clearly."
Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu cast his vote at a polling booth in Guntur on Monday.
Key candidates in the fray from Andhra Pradesh are YSRCP president YS Jagan (Pulivendula), TDP supremo and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is contesting from Kuppam and Janasena chief and actor Pawan Kalyan (Pithapuram). AP Congress president and Jagan's sister YS Sharmila (Kadapa) and BJP state chief Purandeswari (Rajamahendravaram), among others are in the Lok Sabha poll fray.
Assembly elections in Odisha are scheduled to be held in four phases. Voting in 28 seats of the total 147 assembly seats in the first phase began today.
Voting across all 175 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh and 28 seats in Odisha is underway on Monday.