Polling begins amid tight security for bypoll to Jharsuguda Assembly seat in Odisha
Insight Online News
Bhubnaeswar, May 10 : Amid tight security the polling for byelection to Jharsuguda Assembly seat in Odisha began at 0700 hours on Wednesday in 253 booths.
CEO office sources said by 0900 hours about 9.75 per cent voters had exercised their franchise.About 2,21,719 voters will exercise their franchise in the byelection to elect their candidate.
Although nine candidates are in the fray, the byelection will mainly witness a triangular contest among the ruling BJD and Opposition BJP and Congress candidates.
While Deepali Das ,the daughter former Health Minister Naba Das whose murder by a cop necessitated the by poll is contesting as ruling BJD candidate ,the BJP had fielded Tankadhar Tripathy and Tarun Pandey,son of former MLA Biren Pande is in the fray as Congress candidate.
Official sources said all the 253 booths have been webcasted , CCTV cameras have been installed in 106 sensitive booths where micro-observers and central forces have been deployed to ensure free and fair poll.
As many as 40 Model Booths have been set up and 26 Pink booths were opened especially in urban areas totally manned by Trained lady Polling Officers.
Over 1,000 poll officials and an adequate number of security personnel, including seven companies of paramilitary forces, have been deployed to ensure a peaceful voting.
The counting of votes will be taken up on May 13.
