"Festival of democracy": BJP's Basanta Kumar Panda as he casts his vote in Nuapada

Nuapada (Odisha) [India], November 11 (ANI): BJP leader Basanta Kumar Panda cast his vote in Nuapada, Odisha, on Tuesday and urged people to participate in large numbers.

Panda described voting as a "festival of democracy" and said he voted for good governance, welfare, peace, and capable leadership.
Speaking to ANI, Basanta Kumar Panda said, "As a responsible citizen, I cast my vote very carefully. I voted for service, good governance, welfare of the poor and peace in society and for national building. I voted for a capable candidate. I urge the people to vote in large numbers and cast their valuable vote. This is the festival of democracy..."
The bypoll in Nuapada was necessitated following the vacancy in the Assembly seat after the passing away of BJD's Rajendra Dholakia.
From the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Snehangini Chhuria is a candidate for the Nuapada Assembly by-election. She will be up against Bharatiya Janata Party's Jay Dholakia and Congress' Ghasiram Majhi.
As voting for the bye-elections on eight seats of six States and one Union Territory is underway, Dampa constituency in Mizoram recorded the highest turnout of 18.38 per cent as of 9 am, as per the data of the Election Commission of India, followed by the Ghatsila constituency in Jharkhand, with a 17.33 per cent turnout.
In Jammu and Kashmir, a turnout of 15.11 per cent was recorded in Nagrota, while Budgam recorded a sluggish turnout of 9.36 per cent.
Odisha's Nuapada assembly constituency recorded a turnout of 14.99 per cent, while Anta in Rajasthan also recorded a healthy turnout of 14.09 per cent.
Punjab's Tarn Taran recorded 10.32 per cent voter turnout, while Telangana's Jubilee Hills constituency recorded a voter turnout of 10.02 per cent.
The counting of votes is set to take place on November 14, along with the Bihar Assembly Elections. (ANI)