The by-polls to the Baleswar Sadar and Tirtol Assembly constituencies were held peacefully on Tuesday with a final voter turnout of 70.69 % in Baleswar and 69.66 % in Tirtol, informed Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sushil Kumar Lohani here on Wednesday.
While 3,193 people, including 104 Covid-19 patients, cast votes in Tirtol, 1,631 people, including six Covid-19 patients, exercised their franchise through postal ballot in Baleswar. The voter turnout was comparatively lower than General Elections 2019 when it was 71.29% in Baleswar Sdar and 74.09% in Tirtol.“21 Covid patients, who were in home isolation, and two Covid suspects, identified though thermal screening, also voted in Tirol. One patient admitted in the Covid Hospital at Paradip also voted in the last hour,” said Lohani. Similarly, in Baleswar, 23 Covid positive patients. who were in home isolation, and five suspect cases, identified through thermal screening, turned up at polling stations in the last hour and allowed to vote observing all safety protocols, he informed.
“The polled EVMs are safely stored in strong rooms, Baleswar Collectorate EVM warehouse premises, and in SVM College, Jagatsinghpur, duly guarded by CAPF. The strong rooms are under CCTV surveillance and political parties have been allowed to watch this through their representatives outside strong rooms through CCTV monitors 24X7,” said Lohani.