BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 21: An estimated 45 per cent of the 1.38 lakh electorate today exercised their franchise in the by-election to the Laxmipur Assembly constituency which would decide the fate of Orissa Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang.Gamang is locked in a straight contest with BJP-BJD combine's candidate Bibhisan Majhi for the seat.
The poll was boycotted by the Janata Dal, CPI and CPI(M) IN protest against what they claimed the violation of Article 151 A of the Representation of Peoples Act.
Counting of votes will be taken up on Wednesday.
According to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer here, the polling passed off peacefully.
The voters in three booths in Narayanpatna block boycotted the by-election in protest against lack of development in their areas.
Security measures were tightened around all the 174 polling booths with three companies of the Orissa state armed police, 112 officers, 60 havildars and 637 constables deployed in the constituency.
Gamang, who was a member of the LokSabha for an uninterrupted period of 27 years, is making a bid to enter the state Assembly for the first time.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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