Everyone claims good show in first phase polls in Odisha

With the completion of polling for four Lok Sabha and 28 assembly constituencies of Odisha in the first phase, major political parties Thursday exuded confidence about having "performed well" in the elections. While thanking the voters of the four Lok Sabha constituencies of Berhampur, Koraput, Kalahandi and Nabarangpur, ruling BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik claimed his party candidates have "performed very well" in the polls held on Thursday.

"I expect, the results to be better than the 2014 polls," BJD president Patnaik told reporters. BJP Odisha in-charge Arun Singh also made similar claims and said his party would win the elections in Odisha with two-third majority in the state assembly.

OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik said: "The Congress candidates will win 18 out of the 28 assembly seats where polling was held on Thursday. In 2014 elections, BJD had won all the four Lok Sabha seats - Berhampur, Nabarngpur, Kalahandi and Koraput.

Of the 28 assembly segments where polling was also held in the first phase Thursday, the ruling BJD had 20 MLAs while six Congress candidates won in the 2014 assembly elections. BJP had only two MLAs.

(With inputs from agencies.)