Nuapada/Bhubaneswar: As Odisha’s Nuapada Assembly constituency witnessed a record voter turnout of 83.45 per cent in the by-election, the booths located inside Sunabeda wildlife sanctuary also saw considerably high polling.
As per official data, eight booths inside Sunabeda sanctuaries recorded 70 per cent polling in the by-election held peacefully on Tuesday. Of these eight booths, two each are located in Gatibeda, Sunabeda and Soseng and one each in Deosil and Jamgaon.
Officials said the polling process remained smooth and peaceful amid tight security in the presence of seven companies of central armed forces. The Election Commission took extra security measures to ensure smooth polling for nearly 4,000 voters to exercise their rights.
Police said all eight polling parties left the booths on time after polling ended at 4 pm. They were airlifted in IAF helicopters and reached their destinations before evening. No untoward incident was reported from these high-altitude booths located in Maoist-affected areas.
People came without fear or apprehension to cast their votes and the polling parties left the place in time. The EVMs were deposited in the strongrooms, according to Nuapada SP Amritpal Singh.
The 48 personnel of eight parties were air-dropped because of high terrain and security reasons, as they are located within the buffer area of Sunabeda sanctuary.
Police said no Maoist posters have surfaced in any part of Nuapada assembly constituency during electioneering. Maoists in Nuapada mostly use Sunabeda sanctuary, taking advantage of the contiguity of the forest with that of Chhattisgarh.
During the 2012 panchayat elections, 18 polling parties, who were going to conduct the third phase of panchayat polls in the Maoist zone in Sunabeda reserve, returned after Maoists threatened them. In the 2022 panchayat election, no Maoist-related violence was reported.
The overall polling figure was highly impressive with a record voter turnout. The polling passed off smoothly across the Assembly constituency barring minor incidents of lapses.
As per the office of the chief electoral officer (CEO), the constituency recorded 83.45 per cent polling after the final tabulation.
CEO R S Gopalan said that voting was completed peacefully across the 358 polling stations including sensitive and Sakhi booths.
However, violation of vote secrecy was noticed in two booths following which the presiding officers Dhananjay Mallick and Sandeep Kumar Swain were suspended. In both the cases, the companion of one elderly voter each allegedly voted on the latter’s behalf.
The polling process was continuously monitored from the state headquarters to ensure free, fair and transparent election. Polling began at 7 am and was completed at 5 pm in 311 polling stations across the constituency. Voting was wrapped up one hour early in 47 sensitive booths.
Counting of votes will be held on November 14 for which elaborate arrangements have been made by the authorities.
The by-election was necessitated following the death of sitting BJD MLA and former minister Rajendra Dholakia. The ruling BJP has fielded Jay Dholakia, son of Rajendra, from the seat while the BJD had nominated former Minister Snehangini Chhuria. Congress has fielded tribal leader Ghasiram Majhi.
