Bijepur by-poll records 72% voter turnout

Bhubaneswar: The by-poll for Bijepur assembly constituency in Odisha’s Bargarh district recorded 72% voter turnout on Saturday.

Polling percentage was 72% till 5 pm Final voting percentage is likely to go up as people still are waiting in some booths to cast their votes, said Odisha Chief Electoral Officer Surendra Kumar.

The voters have locked the fate of 13 candidates, who were in the fray, in the voting machines. The results of the Bijepur by-poll would be declared on February 28.

He further informed that presiding officer of booth no-193 has been placed under suspension as he was found trying to influence voters to vote in favour of a particular candidate.

The suspended official is identified as the HM of Thikipali project UP school under Bheden block.

The polling commenced at 8 am. A total of 2.21 lakh voters are expected to cast their vote at 281 polling booths, out of which 155 have been marked as ‘sensitive/critical booths.’

Tight security measures have been made to ensure smooth and peaceful polling. As a measure of security, five platoons of Central paramilitary forces, 36 platoons of the State Police have been deployed at various strategic points within the constituency.