Police had to resort to a mild lathicharge to end a scuffle between ruling BJD and opposition Congress supporters in front of a polling booth over allegations of wooing voters by distribution of cash during the CMC by-poll for Ward-21 held on Friday.
Massive police deployment was made in entire Ward-21 and, more particularly, in and around Rajabagicha High School, where the EVMs are stored for counting of votes on Saturday morning.
Brisk polling began in all the six booths of the ward since morning and it went up smoothly for some time. However, by afternoon, anxiety of political leaders mounted and supporters of both BJD and Congress entered into verbal duels leading to the scuffle.
The situation in front of a booth in Municipality Nodal High School worsened as the warring groups entered into a brawl, forcing the police lathicharge to chase away the troublemakers.
“Over 60 per cent polling was recorded,” informed CMC Returning Officer and Cuttack ADM laxmidhar Mohanty.
The by-election in the ward was necessitated as the elected corporator here Anita Behera, who went on to become the city Mayor, was forced to quit her positions for her dubious role in a ration card row.