Baripada: Voting for the by-election to Zilla Parishad zone -32 of the Bijatala block in Mayurbhanj district is being held today amid tight security.
Voters made a beeline to cast their votes at 82 booths of five panchayats since 7 am today.
As per reports, as many as 23,119 voters will decide the fate of 10 poll candidates in Bijatala, Mundatkhura, Banakati, Raihari and Luhashila panchayats.
Out of 82 booths, 10 have been identified as sensitive booths and security has been tightened at these places. The administration has made all arrangements to ensure free and fair conduct of the by-election. To prevent any untoward incident, the district police has deployed seven platoons of police force while the ASP and SDPO are also monitoring the situation in the area. As many as 10 polling parties have been pressed into service to carry out the election duty.
The by-poll was necessitated to the Zilla Parishad zone seat after it fell vacant following the death of BJP candidate Chhotray Marandi.
In 2017 panchayat polls, BJP had won the Zilla Parishad zone no-32 whereas the JMM had secured the second position followed by BJD and the Congress.