Brajrajnagar bypoll passes off peacefully, 69% cast votes till 5pm

Bhubaneswar/Jharsuguda: Over 69% voters exercised their franchise till 5 pm for the bylection to the Brajrajnagar assembly constituency in Jharsuguda district on Tuesday despite scorching heat and humidity. No untoward incident was reported during polling held amid tight security.
As voting continued till 6 pm, chief electoral officer (CEO) S K Lohani said that the final voting percentage may marginally go up compared to the 2019 assembly election figure of 78%. The final voting figure will be announced on Wednesday.
“Voting was conducted peacefully in all the 279 booths. No untoward incident was reported from any booth. Polling was slightly affected due to hailstorm in a few places between 3 and 4 pm. With improvement in the weather situation, voter turnout improved. Live webcasting was done in 50% booths, which we are also monitoring,” said Lohani.
Long queues were seen in almost all booths since the beginning of polling at 7 am. The administration had made adequate arrangements, including drinking water in all polling booths, in view of the heatwave-like condition. Many first-time voters turned up with excitement to exercise their democratic right. “This is the first time I have come to cast my vote. I was bit afraid as I didn’t know how to cast my vote. But the arrangements are very smooth. I have given my vote to the candidate of my choice, said Reema Sahu,” a first-time voter.
Bhubaneswar/Jharsuguda: Over 69% voters exercised their franchise till 5 pm for the bylection to the Brajrajnagar assembly constituency in Jharsuguda district on Tuesday despite scorching heat and humidity. No untoward incident was reported during polling held amid tight security.
As voting continued till 6 pm, chief electoral officer (CEO) S K Lohani said that the final voting percentage may marginally go up compared to the 2019 assembly election figure of 78%. The final voting figure will be announced on Wednesday.
“Voting was conducted peacefully in all the 279 booths. No untoward incident was reported from any booth. Polling was slightly affected due to hailstorm in a few places between 3 and 4 pm. With improvement in the weather situation, voter turnout improved. Live webcasting was done in 50% booths, which we are also monitoring,” said Lohani.
Long queues were seen in almost all booths since the beginning of polling at 7 am. The administration had made adequate arrangements, including drinking water in all polling booths, in view of the heatwave-like condition. Many first-time voters turned up with excitement to exercise their democratic right. “This is the first time I have come to cast my vote. I was bit afraid as I didn’t know how to cast my vote. But the arrangements are very smooth. I have given my vote to the candidate of my choice, said Reema Sahu,” a first-time voter.