Peaceful Polling Marks One Of The Highest Turnouts In Recent By-Elections Of Nuapada

Bhubaneswar : The Nuapada Assembly bypoll concluded on Tuesday evening with a remarkable 83.45 per cent voter turnout, surpassing the 75.49 per cent polling recorded in the last general election, State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) R. S. Gopalan said on Wednesday.

Election officials reported that voting remained largely peaceful across all 358 polling booths, with enthusiastic participation seen in both rural and semi-urban areas. The high turnout has made this bypoll one of the most actively contested in recent times, reflecting a strong voter interest among major political parties.

The CEO informed that all Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been sealed and stored in the strong room under multi-layered security. Counting of votes will be held on November 14, when the fate of the candidates—now locked inside the EVM will be revealed.

Significantly, the bypoll witnessed a notable rise in women voter participation, which many believe could prove decisive in shaping the final outcome. Of the total over 2.54 lakh votes, 1,29,932 were cast by women voters, while 1,24,544 were by men, official data shows.

The higher female voters turnout has sparked speculation about the direction of the women’s vote. Political observers suggest that welfare schemes, self-help group (SHG) initiatives, and local development issues may have influenced their preferences at the ballot box.

Polling day also saw active participation from all major candidates. BJP’s Jay Dholakia and Congress’s Ghasiram Majhi cast their votes at their respective polling stations, while BJD nominee Snehangini Chhuria, who is not a registered voter in the constituency, visited several booths to oversee the polling process.

With voting now concluded, all eyes are on November 14, when counting will determine who takes over as Nuapada’s next MLA.