By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) SK Lohani on Thursday over 38.75 percent polling was registered by 1 pm in the by-poll to Dhamnagar assembly constituency. Official sources said, the figure reached at 40 percent by 2pm. Tension also reported at several polling booths.
Meanwhile, Natabar Munda, the first polling officer engaged for the bye-election, passed away at the SCB hospital in Cuttack this morning. He was working as Assistant Teacher at Olanga Nodal UP School in Bhadrak district and engaged for polls.
‘ଧାମନଗର ଉପନିର୍ବାଚନରେ ନିୟୋଜିତ ଥିବା ପୋଲିଂ ଅଫିସର ନଟବର ମୁଣ୍ଡାଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି।,’ Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in a tweet.
BJD Rebel and Independent candidate Raju Das alleged mismanagement at several booths like booth no-73 and 75 and he also alleged about irregularities in poll process. He said, live telecasting of voting is not being done properly. Das apprehends poll rigging if steps are not being taken in time.
Voting began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm or by 6.30 pm. Triangular fight between BJP’s Suryabanasi Suraj , BJD’s Abanti Das and Independent Raju Das is likely with voters making beeline at various polling stations.
As many as 2,38,417 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the poll which consists of 1,23,038 males, 1,15,346 females and 33 transgenders. Polling going on in 252 booths. In 134 booths there is change of nomenclature. While 15 Model Booths with facilities like Ramp, Temp. shed, separate queues, drinking water, volunteers for PwD and Sr. Citizens etc., 5 Pink booths especially in urban areas totally manned by trained lady Polling Officers opened.
There are single booths in 120 locations, double booths in 54 locations, triple booths in 5 locations, 4 booths each at one location and 5 booths each at one location in the area.
110 booths have been identified as sensitive. Special arrangements have been made for such booths, he informed. In 126 booths web casting will be done while 25 Micro Observers have been deployed and extra CAPF deployment is being done in appropriate locations.
A total of 1008 Polling Officers are deployed with 04 per booth. About 100 Polling Officers are under reserve. A total of 997 Police Personnel (including officers, armed police, havildar, constables and Home guards) and four companies of CAPF are being deployed for the poll.
