Bhubaneswar: About 41.26 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the by-poll for the Jharsuguda Assembly segment till 1.00 pm on Wednesday.
The voting process started at 7.00 am today amid tight security arrangements. The voting started after a mock poll in the presence of representatives of all the political parties and candidates in the booths, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Odisha, Nikunja Bihari Dhal informed and appealed to people to cast their votes without any fear.
Although 63 candidates are in the fray, the contest is confined to Dipali Das, BJD nominee and daughter of slain Health Minister Naba Kishore Das, Congress candidate Tarun Pandey, son of former MLA Biren Pandey, and Tankadhar Tripathy of the BJP. All three candidates are debutants.
More than 1,000 officials and a huge police contingent along with seven companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed for the by-election. CCTV cameras and deployment of micro-observers and Central forces have been ensured in 106 booths identified as critical. Drones are also being used by the police at sensitive and cluster booths to monitor the law and order situation.
