CMC polling sees 57% turnout

About 57 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise in the elections for the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) while polling for the Baripada municipality witnessed a higher turnout at 65 per cent.

The voting process was largely peaceful in the two areas, sources said.

CMC, which has 300,000 voters in its limits and the Baripada municipality, with an electorate strength of 68,000, will elect their mayor and chairperson respectively from a total of 490 candidates in the fray. The ruling BJD (Biju Janata Dal), BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and Congress contested all the 59 seats while parties like CPM, CPI, BSP and Pyarimohan Mohapatra led Odisha Jana Morcha OJM have fielded candidates in three, four, one and 22 seats respectively in the CMC elections.

BJD has also fielded its candidates in all the 28 seats for electing chairperson for the Baripada Municipality while Congress and BJP have pitted 13 and 27 candidates respectively against the BJD. As many as 47 independent candidates are also trying their luck at the municipality election in Baraipada. Elaborate security arrangements were made to ensure peaceful conduct of the elections at both the places.

Counting of votes would be done on February 7. The mayor post for the CMC is reserved for the scheduled caste (women) and the post of chairperson for Baripada municipality is set aside for a women candidate.

The mayor for CMC and chairperson for the Baripada municipality will be elected on February 13.