Students take part in the mini-marathon inBhubaneswar. Picture by SanjibMukherjee

Bhubaneswar, April 13: More than 7,000 youths took up the role of electoral motivators today as they ran in a mini-marathon to espouse the cause of more people’s participation in their exercise of democratic rights.

Flagged off from the 7th Battalion Ground of Odisha State Armed Police, the event was organised by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation to educate the voters and ensure a better voter turnout in the city in the ensuing general elections on April 17.

With Bhubaneswar having a record of about 40 per cent voter turnout as against the state’s average of 65 per cent, the marathon, titled “Run for democracy”, will help in registering more participation of the voters, hoped one of the organisers of the event.

Chief secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, who flagged off the marathon, hoped that more voters would vote from Bhubaneswar this time. The marathon passed through Kalinga Hospital Square, Chandrasekharpur, Damana and Patia areas before culminating at KIIT University Stadium. A concert and play was held on the occasion.

Well-known sprinter Anuradha Biswal said: “Participation of young people in the mini-marathon will definitely inspire others to exercise their voting rights.”

To encourage the young runners, police commissioner RK Sharma, district election officer and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation commissioner Kishan Kumar and deputy commissioner of police Nitinjit Singh also took part in the run.

Students of KIIT University, Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, Institute of Media Studies, Ekamra College, College of Engineering and Technology, Xavier Institute of Management and sports hotel of Kalinga Stadium also took part in the marathon.

State’s chief electoral officer Mona Sharma administered an oath to exercise their franchise.

“We have taken special care to include more young voters and also eliminate those who are not using their voting rights. The marathon and signature campaign will help us ensure more participation of voters in Bhubaneswar,” she said.