Dhamnagar By-Poll: COVID Advisory Of Odisha Govt To Be Followed; Check Other Guidelines

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEC) S K Lohani on Friday announced guidelines and other details of the by-election to the Dhamnagar Assembly constituency following the declaration of notification for the polls.

Addressing media persons, Lohani informed that with COVID-19 norms relaxed across the country, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not issued any fresh COVID guidelines for the conduct of the by-poll. COVID advisory issued by the Odisha government will be followed for the conduct of the by-election, he said.

Polling will be held in 252 booths and there will be live webcasting of the polling process in 50 per cent booths.

Lohani said with the announcement of the by-poll to the Dhamnagar Assembly constituency, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in entire Bhadrak district with immediate effect.

According to him, there were adequate number of EVMs and VVPATs for the by-election and a team of ECI officials will start inspecting them from Saturday.

Key dates & numbers

* Date of issue of gazette notification: Oct 7

* Last date to file nomination: Oct 14

* Scrutiny of nomination: Oct 15

* Last date for withdrawal of nomination: Oct 17

* Date of polling: Nov 3

* Date of counting: Nov 6

* Completion of poll process: Nov 8

* Total voters: 2,38,360

* Male voters: 1,23,013

* Female voters: 1,15,314

* PWD voters: 4,956

* 80-plus voters: 7,206

PWD voters, those above 80 years, COVID-affected and COVID-suspected voters can exercise their franchise through postal ballot, Lohani said.

The by-poll to the Dhamnagar Assembly constituency was necessitated following the death of incumbent BJP MLA Bishnu Sethi, who died of kidney-related problems at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on September 19. The two-time MLA was hospitalised for the past two months. He was serving as the deputy leader of the opposition in the Assembly.