<p>Around 32 per cent polling was recorded by 11 am in the by-election to Brajrajnagar assembly segment in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district, where voting is being held amid tight security and in adherence to Covid-19 norms, officials said on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The polling, being conducted through EVMs, began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.</p>.<p>Over 2.14 lakh people are eligible to exercise their franchise in 279 polling booths in the by-election, which was necessitated following the demise of BJD MLA Kishore Mohanty in December last year.</p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/video/national/odisha-polling-begins-for-brajrajnagar-by-poll-amid-tight-security-1113989.html" target="_blank">Odisha: Polling begins for Brajrajnagar By-poll amid tight security</a></strong></p>.<p>At least 1,000 state police personnel and three companies of central paramilitary force have been deployed for smooth conduct of the polling, the officials said.</p>.<p>A total of 60 polling booths have been identified as "sensitive", where additional security arrangements have been made, they said.</p>.<p>There are 11 candidates in the fray, and the constituency will witness a triangular fight among BJD, BJP and Congress nominees.</p>.<p>The BJD fielded Alaka Mohanty as its candidate in Brajranjnagar assembly segment, while the BJP nominated former MLA Radharani Panda. Ex-assembly speaker Kishore Patel is contesting the by-election on a Congress ticket.</p>
<p>Around 32 per cent polling was recorded by 11 am in the by-election to Brajrajnagar assembly segment in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district, where voting is being held amid tight security and in adherence to Covid-19 norms, officials said on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The polling, being conducted through EVMs, began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.</p>.<p>Over 2.14 lakh people are eligible to exercise their franchise in 279 polling booths in the by-election, which was necessitated following the demise of BJD MLA Kishore Mohanty in December last year.</p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/video/national/odisha-polling-begins-for-brajrajnagar-by-poll-amid-tight-security-1113989.html" target="_blank">Odisha: Polling begins for Brajrajnagar By-poll amid tight security</a></strong></p>.<p>At least 1,000 state police personnel and three companies of central paramilitary force have been deployed for smooth conduct of the polling, the officials said.</p>.<p>A total of 60 polling booths have been identified as "sensitive", where additional security arrangements have been made, they said.</p>.<p>There are 11 candidates in the fray, and the constituency will witness a triangular fight among BJD, BJP and Congress nominees.</p>.<p>The BJD fielded Alaka Mohanty as its candidate in Brajranjnagar assembly segment, while the BJP nominated former MLA Radharani Panda. Ex-assembly speaker Kishore Patel is contesting the by-election on a Congress ticket.</p>