In a remarkable display of democratic enthusiasm, Odisha’s Nuapada Assembly constituency recorded an impressive 83.45% voter turnout during the by-election held on Tuesday — a sharp rise of over 8% from the 2024 general elections, officials confirmed.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) R.S. Gopalan took to X (formerly Twitter) to express gratitude to the electorate, calling it a historic moment for the region.
“Nuapada by-election witnessed a historic 83.45 per cent voter turnout. This enthusiastic participation shows the faith and trust of the people of Nuapada in democracy. Our heartfelt gratitude to all the voters who made this festival of democracy a success. Thanks to all election officials and staff who put in dedicated efforts to create awareness among voters,” he wrote.
In a notable achievement, polling booths located inside the Maoist-affected Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary recorded over 70% voter turnout, a stark contrast to previous years. According to officials, the rise in participation came on the back of enhanced security measures and proactive arrangements made well before the polling date on November 11.
To ensure smooth polling for nearly 4,000 voters in these sensitive areas, the Election Commission deployed IAF helicopters to airlift election officials, EVMs, and materials to the remote booths. The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) maintained strict vigil to ensure peaceful voting.
Voting was completed without any major incident across 358 polling stations, the CEO said. However, two presiding officers were suspended for violating the secrecy of voting during the process. Continuous monitoring from the state headquarters ensured a free, fair, and transparent election.
The by-election was necessitated by the demise of sitting BJD MLA and former minister Rajendra Dholakia. The electoral contest has drawn significant attention as Jay Dholakia, the late leader’s son, contested on a BJP ticket, while the BJD fielded its women’s wing chief Snehangini Chhuria. The Congress has nominated veteran tribal leader Ghasiram Majhi, along with several other candidates in the fray.
