Bhubaneswar, November 11: A high voter turnout of over 75% was recorded by 5 PM on Tuesday in the by-election for the Nuapada assembly seat in Odisha, with 2.53 lakh eligible voters casting their ballots, according to election officials.

While the outcome of the bypoll will not impact the current state government, it holds significant political implications for the ruling BJP, opposition BJD, and Congress. This election marks the first electoral contest in Odisha since the BJP formed its government for the first time last year.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who made multiple visits to Nuapada in the lead-up to the election, has made the bypoll a matter of personal prestige. On the other hand, the election is also seen as a test of BJD president Naveen Patnaik’s enduring influence over Odisha's political landscape.

In a related development, two election officials have been suspended for alleged misconduct during the voting process.