Bhubaneswar: Women voters will outnumber men in the upcoming Nuapada Assembly by-election, scheduled for November 11, according to data shared by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha.
The final voter list for the by-election records a total of 2,53,624 voters, including 1,29,495 female, 1,24,108 male, and 21 third-gender electors. The list also features 9,429 first-time voters, 3,988 voters with disabilities, and 1,786 senior citizens aged above 85 years. To ensure smooth polling, 56 new booths have been set up.
In a meeting held Thursday with representatives of all political parties at the CEO’s office, Chief Electoral Officer R.S. Gopalan said that comprehensive arrangements have been made to ensure a free, fair, and impartial by-election. He urged parties to strictly follow the Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines to ensure the smooth conduct of the poll.
Gopalan also informed that, in line with this year’s ECI directives, the number of voters per polling station has been capped at 1,200.
With the election date announced, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in the constituency. Parties and candidates must now seek prior approval from the Election Commission before issuing advertisements through any media platform — including electronic, print, web, radio, or cinema. Contesting candidates are also required to disclose any criminal records publicly in print media and inform the Commission accordingly.
The meeting also discussed expenditure limits for candidates and parties, the list of star campaigners, and measures to ensure strict compliance with the Model Code of Conduct.
The meeting was attended by representatives from various political parties, along with Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sushant Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretaries Pramod Kumar Sahu and Ramchandra Kisku, Joint Secretary Gopinath Kuanr, and Deputy Chief Electoral Officers Lakshmi Prasad Sahu and Anamika Singh.
