Bhubaneswar, Dec 8 (PTI) Counting of votes for the by-poll to Padampur assembly seat in Odisha's Bargarh district is underway on Thursday amid tight security arrangements, an official said.

A high turnout of 81.29 per cent was recorded in Padamppur during the by-election held on Monday.

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Counting began at 8 AM at the RMC Yard near the Padampur sub-collector's office.

There were 10 candidates in the fray including ruling BJD's Barsha Singh Bariha, the daughter of late MLA Bijay Ranjan Singh Bariha, whose death necessitated the by-poll.

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The BJP has fielded former legislator and party's Krushak Morcha president Pradip Purohit as its candidate while three-time MLA Satya Bhusan Sahu is the Congress candidate.

Chief Electoral Officer S K Lohani said tight security arrangements are in place with deployment of around three companies of central paramilitary force in the inner cordon and state armed police in the outer area.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)