Jharsuguda Bypoll: Over 75% Voter Turnout; Polling Remains Peaceful

Jharsuguda:The Jharsuguda Assembly constituency bye-election in Odisha witnessed an estimated 75.60% voter turnout, as over 2.2 lakh voters exercised their franchise on Wednesday. By 7 pm, the voter turnout had touched 75.60%, and voting was still continuing in five booths. All the voters who were in the queue at the booths by 6 pm were allowed to exercise their democratic rights.

The poll was conducted without any untoward incident amid tight security arrangements.

The Chief Electoral Officer’s office reported that the voting percentage may rise as a large number of voters were still waiting in queues at several polling booths to exercise their democratic rights.

Although nine candidates are in the fray, the contest is mainly between three debutants with the ruling BJD as well as the Congress and BJP having fielded first-time candidates. A total of 2.2 lakh electors, including 63 members of the transgender community, were eligible to cast their votes in 253 booths across the constituency to decide the fate of the nine candidates in the fray.

In a first, webcasting was arranged in all 253 booths, while CCTV cameras, deployment of micro-observers, and central forces were ensured in 106 booths identified as critical, besides 30 as demanded by various political parties.

Votes will be counted on May 13, and a win in this bypoll could give a psychological edge to the victorious party in the run-up to the twin polls in 2024.