Nuapada bypolls: Over 51% voter turnout recorded till 1 pm, 2 poll officers suspended

Bhubaneswar: More than half of the 2.53 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 1 pm on Tuesday in the by-election to Nuapada assembly seat in Odisha, an official said.

Though the bypoll's outcome will not affect the government in the state, it holds political significance for the ruling BJP, opposition BJD, and the Congress, as it's the first electoral contest in the state since the saffron party formed its maiden government last year.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who visited Nuapada at least six times in the run-up to the bypoll, has taken it as a prestige issue. Similarly, the election is also being seen as a test of BJD president Naveen Patnaik’s continued influence in state politics.

Polling has been continuing since 7 am across all 358 booths, including 47 identified as sensitive, amid tight security arrangements. According to poll officials, 51.42 per cent have exercised their franchise till 1pm.

Though there was a temporary disruption in voting for some time at Mongarapali polling station on Khariar Road due to a technical glitch, it was rectified, an official said, adding that three ballot units (BUs) and three control units (CUs) were promptly replaced.

The bypoll was necessitated following the death of sitting BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia on September 8. The regional party has fielded Snehangini Chhuria to retain the seat, while the BJP has nominated Jay Dholakia, son of the late legislator.

The Congress, which has been out of power in the state since 2000, has fielded veteran tribal leader Ghasiram Majhi as its candidate. Majhi was the runner-up in the 2024 assembly polls by securing over 50,000 votes.

Briefing reporters, chief electoral officer RS Gopalan said voting was underway smoothly in all the polling booths and no untoward incidents were reported till 1.30 pm.

According to the District Election Officer (DEO), two poll officials have been suspended for failing to maintain voting secrecy.

They were identified as Sandeep Kumar Swain, a school teacher working as the presiding officer at Government Upgraded High School at Biromal, and Dhananjay Mallick, also a presiding officer posted at Kuliabandh Government School.

Nuapada had recorded 75.44 per cent polling in the 2024 state Assembly election.