Bhubaneswar, Feb 13: Today the first phase of panchayat polls that began this morning ended in the afternoon. But during this course it was seen that the poll was boycotted in nine Gram Panchayats in eight districts of Odisha. In Khurda, villagers belonging to the Daruthenga panchayat on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar boycotted the elections upon their demand to shift the dump yard. As a result, the villagers restricted themselves from voting at 13 booths in Zone number 28. Three candidates contested for Zilla Parishad at Zone number 28 but none filed nominations for Sarpanch, Samiti Member and Ward Member posts. Also in Cuttack, villagers boycotted voting at around 10 booths including four of Dokada and six of Balijhari panchayat under Narasinghpur block. In Balasore, votes were not conducted in nine polling booths in Kachuadi panchayat of Bhograi block over a dispute over the panchayat headquarters. In Bolangir district, people of Dandapani and Dabalpani villages under Ratakhandi panchayat in Lower Suktel submerged area boycotted polling demanding no re-organisation of panchayat. Villagers of Badakana under Bhamili panchayat of Umerkote block in Nabarangpur boycotted the election and protested against shifting of booth from their village to another place. Protesting against unavailability of basic amenities, villagers of K.Balipal panchayat under Hatadihi block in Keonjhar boycotted voting and also restricted polling officer to enter the polling booths at nine places. They also staged a road blockade. The same happened in Kendrapara under Gagua panchayat in Mahakalpada block. In Bhadrak, residents of Ward no. 19 in Tihidi Achak panchayat boycotted polling thus demanding a stay in Paliabindha Panchayat.
