Bhubaneswar: Amid Covid-19 pandemic, 71 per cent polling was recorded for bypoll to Balsore Assembly seat while the voter turnout in Tirtol was 69.9 per cent till 6 pm.
Briefing the media here Tuesday evening, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Odisha, Sushil Kumar Lohani said, as per latest report (till 6 pm), Balasore recorded a polling of 71 per cent and it was 69.9 per cent in Tirtol.
After the return of all polling parties to the headquarters, the exact voting percentage will be ascertained. At 6:45 pm, voting was going on in 30 booths of Balasore and 120 booths of Tirtol, Lohani said.
The turnout of voters for the by-polls to two Assembly segments is very encouraging and it is almost equal to the polling done in the two constituencies during 2019 General Elections. In 2019, the polling percentage in Balsore and Tirtol was 71.29 per cent and 74.09 per cent respectively, he said.
“There were media reports on people rejecting the election at some places. However, our teams reached those places and verified that polling was being carried out normally,” added Lohani.
Asked about the reports on distribution of money to voters by a lady in Balasore, the CEO said, “As per information given by the Collector, distribution of money was not established. But, a detailed report awaited.”
As soon media report surfaced that a police man was distributing voter slips of a particular party in a booth, he was removed from the duty, he said.
Police DG Abhaya said the bypoll to Balasore Sadar and Tirtol Assembly constituencies was conducted peacefully and thanked the people of these two areas for their cooperation. “I convey my appreciation for very good work done by deployed police personnel. They were ably led by respective SPs and Range DIG/IG,” he said in a tweet.
PNN
