72 per cent exercise their franchise in Bijepur Assembly by-poll
Bijepur: Seventy two per cent of the voters exercised their franchise in the Bijepur Assembly constituency by-poll which ended at 5.00pm Monday. Giving this information, DIPRO Kalyani Dash said that there have been no reports about any untoward incidents during the by-poll.
The voting started at 7.00am at 285 booths. Prior to the commencement of polling, mock polling was conducted at 5.30am in the booths for the smooth conduct of elections.
It should be stated here that out of the 285 polling booths, 129 were identified as sensitive and another six were marked hyper-sensitive booths. Eleven model booths were set up with special arrangements for differently-abled persons to exercise their franchise.
Bijepur by-poll: Voter turnout 37.10 per cent by 1.00pm
Bargarh: Casting of votes is continuing smoothly at all the 285 booths of the Bijepur with the turnout recorded at 37.10 per cent till one in the afternoon according to DIPRO Kalyani Dash.
The number of voters has been swelling by the hour dispelling doubts about a low turnout. This is the third time that the Bijepur Assembly constituency is going to the polls in 20 months. Hence there was apprehension that voters may stay away from polling booths.
The focus will now shift to the three BJD, BJP and Congress candidates.
Even though the political analysts have said that victory for BJD candidate Rita Sahu is a foregone conclusion, it is the margin which will matter the most.
Rita Sahu cast her vote early in the day after which she said that it is the BJD which will ensure her victory.
Similarly, candidate Sanat Kumar Gartia said that the BJP will win easily. Congress candidate Dillip Kumar Panda is also hopeful that the mandate will go in his favour.
Bijepur by-poll: Voting underway peacefully, says Chief Electoral Officer S K Lohani
Bijepur: Polling for Bijepur assembly seat is going on in a peaceful manner across all the booths so far, informed Chief Electoral Officer S K Lohani.
No untoward incident has ever reported from any booths, Lohani informed, adding that, during mock-polling one ballot and seven VVPAT machines were found to have some glitches.
Similarly, during initial hours of polling, only one VVPAT developed some glitches. Otherwise, all the machines are performing well, because of their latest models, Lohani added.
A 100-year-old woman, Lochana Naik exercised her voting rite at Agalpur booth under Barpali block.
Bijepur by-poll: Voter turnout 25.7 per cent at 11.00am
Bijepur: Voter turnout in the Bijepur constituency by-poll has been increasing by the hour and the turnout was 25.7 per cent at 11.00 am. At around 9.00am the Bijepur constituency registered a nine per cent turnout
District information and public relation officer Kalyani Dash informed that slowly the people queuing up to cast their votes have been increasing.
Voting started at 7.00am across 285 booths amid tight security. Adequate arrangements are there in place to ensure free and fair polling.
According to chief electoral officer SK Lohani, a total of 2,32,264 voters ( 1,20,135 males and 1,12,114 females) are eligible to use their franchise in the Bijepur Assembly constituency. Two hundred and eighty five wheelchairs have been kept ready to help the 2,750 physically- challenged voters in the electoral list.
One hundred and twenty nine booths have been identified as sensitive and another six as hyper-sensitive. Eleven model booths have been set up with special arrangements for differently-abled persons to exercise their franchise.
A total of 1,895 poll personnel and 32 officers have been deployed for smooth polling while 441 vehicles have been pressed into service. Fourteen CCTV cameras have been installed at strategic locations and arrangement for webcasting has been made at 28 centres.
Polling begins in Bijepur
Bhubaneswar: The voting has begun for the bypoll to Bijepur Assembly constituency in Odisha’s Bargarh district Monday.
A total of 2.32 lakh eligible voters including 1.20 lakh male and 1.12 lakh female are expected to exercise their franchise in 285 polling booths in the Assembly constituency.
The polling which began at 7 a.m. will continue till 6 p.m.
Sushil Kumar Lohani, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has said 129 polling stations have been identified as critical.
AHe informed that adequate steps have been taken to ensure hassle-free voting in six polling stations, vulnerable to Left Wing Extremism (LWE) menace.
The voters will decide the fate of five candidates in the fray.
While ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has fielded Rita Sahu, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Sanat Gartia and the Congress has fielded Dillip Kumar Panda in the Assembly segment.
The by-election was necessitated after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who had won two segments in the 2019 Assembly polls, vacated Bijepur and retained Hinjili in Ganjam district.
The counting of votes will be held October 24.
PNN