CEO declares Rs 15 lakh Ex-gratia for family of dead Polling Officer

Bhubaneswar: Ex-gratia of Rs 15 lakh would be paid to the family members of the polling officer, who breathed his last few hours before the start of polling for Dhamnagar byelection. The deceased polling officer, Natabar Munda, had suddenly become ill yesterday. He was immediately shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where he breathed his last during treatment. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S.K.Lohani made this announcement today.

The deceased polling officer, Natabar was to be posted as the polling officer of Booth No. 139 of the Dhamnagar assembly constituency.

Voting for Dhamnagar byelection has started from 7am today. Approximately 2,38,417 voters will exercise their franchise in this byelection. The five candidates contesting this byelection are Abanti Das (BJD), Suryabanshi Suraj (BJP), Baba Harekrushna Sethi (Congress), Rajendra Kumar Das (Independent), and Pabitra Mohan Das (Independent).

Voting is being conducted in 252 booths, out of which 110 have been declared to be sensitive ones.