Bypolls held for Samiti Member & ZP in Kendrapara, Balasore

Kendrapara/Balasore: Bypolls were held for the posts of Samiti Member in Penthapala and Badambila panchayats of Kendrapara and member of zilla parishad in zone 26 in Balasore.

As many as 6,000 voters cast their vote during the bypoll for the Penthapala panchayat samiti seat, reserved for woman candidate.

While Marua Malik and Pramila Malik claim to be Congress-supported candidates in the polls, the other two samiti member aspirants Babita Malik and Puspalata Jena claim to have BJD and BJP support, respectively.

Babita Tarai, wife of Kendrapara MLA Kishore Tarai, had resigned from Penthapala panchayat samiti post following which the seat has been lying vacant.

After charges of poll irregularities were levelled against Babita, she had resigned from the post as per the Chief Minister’s directive.

Around 5,000 voters of 18 wards exercised their franchise in Aul block of Kendrapara,.

Pradeep, a voter, said "We voted in favour of candidate who will work for our betterment."

On the other hand, voting was held from 7 am to 12 noon for zilla parishad post in ZP zone-26 in Balasore district.

Fate of five candidates were sealed in ballot box whereas 36,984 voters have cast vote in the ZP zone.