Pipili assembly bypoll result 2021: Counting of votes under way

PURI: The counting of votes for bypoll to the Pipili assembly constituency in Odisha’s Puri district began at 8am on Sunday, officials said.
A three-layer security arrangement is in place at the counting centre at Penthakota Warehouse, an official said.
As many as 72 government officials have been engaged in the counting process, said Odisha’s chief electoral officer SK Lohani.
To avoid crowding at the counting tables, live feeds of the halls is being broadcast on large screens outside the centre, he said.
The results of five Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) and EVMs will be randomly matched after the counting is over, he said.
The poll to the constituency was held on September 30 as the seat was vacant for about a year, following the death of sitting BJD MLA Pradeep Maharathy in October 2020.
The election commission had deferred the by-election thrice due to various reasons.
The electoral fate of 10 candidates, including ruling BJD’s Rudrapratap Maharathy, BJP’s Ashrit Pattnaik and Congress nominee Bishwokeshan Harichandan Mohapatra, will be decided today.
The Pipili assembly segment is considered as the fort of the ruling BJD as its member Pradeep Maharathy won the seat five times in a row from 2000.
Though the bypoll was scheduled to take place on April 17, it was countermanded after Congress candidate Ajit Mangaraj succumbed to Covid-19 three days before polling.
Later, voting was scheduled to be held on May 13 and May 16 but it was also deferred.
(With agency inputs)
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