Padampur Bypoll: 80.5% Polling of Votes Recorded by 6 PM

Padampur: Voter turnout for Padampur by-poll reached a record high of 80.5 per cent until 6 PM. This hinted at the high enthusiasm among Padampur voters to exercise their franchise.

Meanwhile, no untoward incident was reported from any place.

The help desks are also functioning properly at all polling stations.

Volunteers are supporting elderly and disabled persons.

A total of 12 Zonal Magistrates, 36 Sectoral Officers, and 45 Mobile Police Parties, are patrolling the area and attending to all the complaints.

Glitches were noticed in the EVMs at four booths during the mock poll and at four more booths during actual polling.

Four ballot units, 3 control units, and 8 VVPATs have been replaced.

Voting for the bypoll to the Padampur assembly seat began at 7 am on Monday and the polling will continue till 4 pm at 319 booths.

While 10 candidates are contesting the by-poll, a fierce fight is expected between BJD’s Barsha Singh Bariha, BJP’s Pradip Purohit, and Congress’ Satya Bhusan Sahu.

It is pertinent to mention that the Padampur assembly seat had fallen vacant on October 3, 2022, due to the untimely demise of Bijay Ranjan Singh Bariha. BJD candidate Barsha is daughter of Bijay Bariha.