The second phase of simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha concluded on May 20th, 2023, with an overall voter turnout of 60.72% as of 5 p.m. Bargarh Lok Sabha constituency witnessed the highest turnout at 66.14%, while Aska had the lowest turnout at 55.65%.
The Chief Electoral Officer reported long queues at polling booths despite heavy rains and hailstorms affecting voting in certain areas. This phase marked the end of the electoral contest for key candidates, including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, former Union Minister Jual Oram, and hockey legend Dilip Tirkey.
In an unfortunate incident, an auto-rickshaw driver was stabbed to death while polling was underway in Bargarh Lok Sabha constituency. The murder took place near Sarsara village, barely 300 meters from the polling booth. The deceased was identified as Biswa Mirdhank. Though family members alleged political rivalry as the motive, police stated that an investigation was necessary to ascertain the exact cause.
The second phase of elections in Odisha concluded the electoral contest for several prominent candidates, setting the stage for a decisive outcome in the upcoming phases of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
