Odisha bypoll: BJD leads in the Padampur byelection with of 33,596 votes

BJD candidate Barsha Singh Bariha leads in the Padampur byelection, with a margin of 33,596 votes over the BJP after the eighth round of counting for the by-poll to the Padampur assembly seat in Odisha's Bargarh district on Thursday, an official said.

Bhubaneswar: BJD candidate Barsha Singh Bariha leads in the Padampur byelection, with a margin of 33,596 votes over the BJP after the eighth round of counting for the by-poll to the Padampur assembly seat in Odisha's Bargarh district on Thursday, an official said. Barsha Singh Bariha, the daughter of late MLA Bijay Ranjan Singh Bariha, whose death necessitated the by-poll, got 43,691 votes, while the BJP's Pradip Purohit bagged 28,150 votes.

In the fourth round, the BJD nominee was leading by 8,178 votes. Congress candidate Satya Bhusan Sahu bagged 1,634 votes. Altogether there were 10 candidates in the fray. A high turnout of 81.29 per cent was recorded in Padampur during the by-election held on Monday. The counting of votes for the by-poll to the Padampur Assembly seat in Odisha's Bargarh district is underway amid tight security arrangements.

A high turnout of 81.29 per cent was recorded in Padamppur during the by-election held on Monday. Counting began at 8 AM at the RMC Yard near the Padampur sub-collector's office. There were 10 candidates in the fray including ruling BJD's Barsha Singh Bariha, the daughter of late MLA Bijay Ranjan Singh Bariha, whose death necessitated the by-poll.

The BJP has fielded former legislator and party's Krushak Morcha president Pradip Purohit as its candidate while three-time MLA Satya Bhusan Sahu is the Congress candidate. Chief Electoral Officer S K Lohani said tight security arrangements are in place with the deployment of around three companies of the central paramilitary force in the inner cordon and state armed police in the outer area. (With Agency inputs)