All eyes on Bijepur as bypoll results to be out tomorrow

Bargarh: Not only political parties but analysts and even the general public are waiting anxiously for the results of the bypoll for Bijepur Assembly seat which will be out tomorrow.

With all eyes on the fate of the three main parties, the ruling BJD, BJP and the Congress, the administration has put preparations in place.

A total of 14 tables have been kept in place for counting of votes with as many as 21 rounds of count likely to be conducted.

The EVM machines are being kept under the strict vigil at a college in Padampur. A company of CRPF has also been deployed in the area for safeguard of the votes and prevention of any untoward incident.

As per schedule counting of votes will begin from 8 am and the trend will be out by noon.

The bypoll will decide the fate of as many as 13 candidates who are in fray for the assembly seat, the election to which was necessitated following the death of Congress MLA Subal Sahu. The high voltage fight though is primarily being seen as a triangular fight between BJD, BJP and Congress.

While bypoll has turned out to be a matter of prestige for BJD which has been trying to claim the seat since last three terms, only to be defeated by Congress strongman Subal Sahu, this time it has roped in his wife Rita Sahu to grab the opportunity.

On the other hand, upbeat over wins in last year’s Panchayat elections, the BJP which is trying to make inroads into BJD bastion is waiting to make a mark ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Similarly, the Congress is also aiming to win the seat again with its candidate Pranay Sahu exuding confidence with his promises for the people.

After nearly three weeks of high drama and campaign, more than 72 per cent of voter turnout was recorded during the bypoll voting conducted on Saturday.

The voting process largely remained peaceful as heavy deployment of security personnel were made across the constituency.