55 per cent polling recorded in Laxmipur Assy bypoll

Bhubaneswar, Apr 12 (UNI) Around 55 per cent of the total 1.53 lakh electrotate today exercised their franchise in the byelection to Laxmipur Assembly seat.

The election passed off peacefully and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere.

However, the electorate of eleven villages of Kaberibada Gram Panchayat under Bandhugaon block boycotted the election, protesting lack of basic amenities like road connectivity and electricity in their areas.

Elaborate security arrangement was made for the smooth conduct of the elections following the boycott call by the Maoists.

As many as 30 platoons of security personnel, including Special Operation Group and CRPF personnel, were deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident.

Though five candidates Mr Bibhisan Majhi (BJD), Mr Purna Chandra Majhi (Congress), Mr Upendra Majhi (Samudrha Orissa), Mr Kumuda Saunta (Samajawadi Party) and Mr Dandasi Tirupati (IND) were in the fray, the contest was mainly between the Congress and the ruling BJD.

More than eight Ministers of the ruling BJD-BJP alliance and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had campaigned extensively during the past few days to win the seat, considered a Congress stronghold.

The Congress won the seat in 2004 by over 12,000 votes.

The byelection was necessitated following the death of Congress MLA Anantaram Majhi.

UNI BD SJC DB1916