Bhubaneswar: The Dhamnagar Assembly constituency that went to by-election on Thursday recorded 66.63 per cent voter turnout as 2.38 lakh voters exercised their franchise amid allegations of rigging and clashes, an Election Commission official said.
Chief Electoral Officer S K Lohani said the final voters’ turnout, which will be known after polling parties return and make reports, is expected to increase.
Responding to allegations of rigging and clashes, he said that the polling was by and large peaceful. There was no violence near the polling booths.
”There was no violence near the polling booths. One or two minor cases came to our notice, and those took place away from the polling stations,” he said.
Of the total 252 polling stations in the constituencies, 110 booths were declared as sensitive. Webcasting was conducted in 126 booths.
There were 15 model booths and five ”pink booths” manned by women security personnel and polling officials.
A total of 2.38 lakh voters — 1.23 lakh men and 1.15 lakh women — were eligible to exercise their franchise in the bypoll.
