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45 percent voting in Laxmipur by-poll

More than 45 percent of the 138,000-strong electorate exercised its franchise today in the Laxmipur assembly by-elections to decide the fate of Orissa Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang.

According to chief election office sources, the polling was peaceful with no untoward incident reported from any of the four blocks of the constituency.

Laxmipur block reported 53 percent polling followed by Narayanpatna and Bandhgaon 45 percent. Kashipur block, however, recorded a turnout of 41 percent.

Sources said intermittent drizzle in Kashipur block kept away voters in the area.

Unofficial reports said voters in at least three of the 174 booths in the constituency had boycotted the polling in protest against the government's apathy towards the development of their area.

The by-elections have been necessitated following the resignation of minister of state for health and family welfare Anantram Majhi to enable the chief minister to get elected to the state assembly.

Gamang, who has successfully contested Lok Sabha elections from Koraput constituency eight times in a row took over as chief minister on February 17 last, after J B Patnaik resigned in the wake of a series of attacks on Christians in the state.

As per the provisions of the Constitution, Gamang must be elected to the house before August 17.

The byelection witnessed a straight contest between the chief minister and Biju Janata Dal candidate Bhibhisan Majhi, a debutant in electoral politics.

Three major political parties -- Communist Party of India-Marxist, Communist Party of India and the Janata Dal boycotted the by-poll in protest against the election commission's decision to hold the election in Laxmipur ''violating'' the Constitution and the People's Representative Act.

Official sources said counting of the ballots would be held on June 23 and the result would be known by evening.

UNI

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