Around 69 per cent polling was recorded till 5 pm in the by-election to the Brajrajnagar Assembly constituency in Jharsuguda district on Tuesday, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) SK Lohani said.
The final voters’ turnout would be known after polling parties returned from the booths, said he. The Assembly segment had recorded a polling of 78% in the 2019 general elections.
No untoward incident was reported from any booth till 5 p.m. However, due to some technical glitches, four EVMs were replaced, Lohani said.
There were good turnouts at the pink booths set up with only women polling agents, he informed.
In all, 1,228 polling officers were appointed in the booths. About 1,000 police officials and three companies of Central armed forces were deployed to maintain law and order.
The by-poll was necessitated following the demise of BJD MLA Kishore Mohanty in December 2021. Although there are 11 candidates, the constituency witnessed a triangular fight among BJD, BJP and Congress nominees, Alaka Mohanty, Radharani Panda and Kishore Patel, respectively.