Defying Maoist threat, people cast their votes in large number in the by-election for Umerkote assembly constituency in Nabarangpur district of Odisha, more than 500 km from Bhubaneswar.
Police said the largely peaceful election had a polling of more than 70%.
The by-election for the seat reserved for Scheduled Tribes was necessitated following the murder of ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jagabandhu Majhi, allegedly by Maoists, on September 24. The by-election for the seat is having a triangular fight between the BJD’s Subash Ganda, Congress’ Jatindranath Ganda and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Dharmu Ganda.
The constituency has a total of about 1.65 lakh votors. Seventy of the total 162 booths were identified as highly sensitive as many parts of the constituency neighbouring Chatisgarh have Maoist presence.
As the Maoists had asked the people to refrain from voting, the police had made elaborate security arrangements to thwart any untoward incidents.