Bhubaneswar, May 25: During the Phase III Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Odisha on Saturday, several prominent figures cast their ballots in the early hours and urged the public to vote in large numbers.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, 5T Chairman VK Pandian, BJP’s National Vice President Baijayant Panda, Puri BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate Sambit Patra, Chief Secretary PK Jena, Chief Electoral Officer Nikunja Bihari Dhal, and Congress Cuttack-Barabati MLA candidate Sofia Firdous were among those who voted before noon.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik cast his vote at a polling booth for the Phase III elections in Odisha. After voting, he appealed to the electorate, particularly young voters, to come out and exercise their democratic right.

Patnaik is contesting from two assembly seats, Hinjli and Kantabanji, which held polls on May 20.

5T Chairman VK Pandian arrived at the polling station in an auto-rickshaw and waited in a long queue to cast his vote in the state capital. He encouraged voters to embrace the democratic process, describing it as a "festival of democracy."

After casting his vote, Pandian told the media, "Everyone should come and vote in large numbers and participate in this great celebration of democracy. Enjoy the festival and choose the candidate of your choice."

Aparajita Sarangi, the BJP candidate for Bhubaneswar MP, also stood in a long queue to cast her vote.

Chief Electoral Officer Nikunja Dhal and Chief Secretary PK Jena exercised their franchise shortly after the voting process began.

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