Bhubaneswar: A polling booth in Odisha’s Puri district was decorated with betelvine theme in the last phase Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the state today.

The booth under Kakatpur Assembly segment, which comes under Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha constituency, resembled a betelvine for many.

The authorities erected sheds with bamboo and straw and decorated them with betel leaves to give the voters the feelings of a real betel vine. They also took the necessary steps for spraying water on the betel leaves to keep them fresh amid the hot and humid weather condition.

Many farmers in Kakatpur area of Puri district cultivate betel leaf for their livelihood. The polling booth was decorated with betelvine theme to celebrate this vital local economic activity, said the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Odisha.

Discover the rich heritage at the Udala ethnic booths in Mayurbhanj! 🌿✨ Marvel at exquisite clay artifacts and figurines, beautifully complemented by lush greenery. 🌱(3/n) #ClayArt #GreenTouch pic.twitter.com/VN7lNqpk1z

— CEO Odisha (@OdishaCeo) June 1, 2024

Sports and Youth Services department minister Tusharkanti Behera is seeking re-election from Kakatpur Assembly segment on a BJD ticket. The BJP has picked former MLA Baidhar Mallick to fight the polls from Kakatpur seat.

Similarly, sitting Jagatsinghpur MP Rajashree Mallick is in fray from the same seat. Mallick, as BJD candidate, has been pitted against Bibhu Prasad Tarai of BJP and Rabindra Kumar Sethy of Congress.

In a related development, a few booths under Udala Assembly segment in Mayurbhanj district were decorated with clay artifacts and figurines

The booths were designed as eco-friendly booths. They displayed the rich heritage and culture of the local community, said the CEO office.

Srinath Soren of ruling BJD has been pitted against Bhaskar Madhei of BJP and Durga Charan Tudu of Congress from Udala Assembly seat.

Similarly, Sudam Marndi of BJD and Naba Charan Majhi of BJP among others are in the fray from Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha seat.

Notably, six Lok Sabha constituencies—Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur—and 42 Assembly segments under them went for polling in the last phase polls in Odisha today.