Puri (SunstarTV Bureau): Pipili bypoll assembly constituency began at 7 am on Thursday amid tight security which is been scheduled to continue till 6 pm. With adherence to COVID protocols the polling will carry out.
The polling agents deployed at the booths should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, decided earlier.
The constituency has a total of 2,29,998 voters while polling is being held at 348 booths, out of which 201 have been identified as sensitive, where central armed police force and micro observers have been deployed.
Besides, 2000 police personnel have been deployed in the area to ensure smooth conduct of the election. A total of 348 VVPAT machines and 924 postal ballots are being used in the election.
Apart from Voter ID card, people can show 11 other types of ID proofs to cast their vote at the polling centres. All voters will undergo thermal screening and be provided with hand gloves at the centres. Those with high body temperature will get token to cast their vote during the last one hour.
The polling day has been declared as a public holiday in the Pipili area. All the government and private employees who are voters have been granted paid holiday.
The by-election to the Pipili assembly constituency was necessitated following the death of sitting MLA Pradeep Maharathy in October, last year. Votes will be counted on October 3.
