77.4 percent turnout at Manko GP

ROURKELA: The Maoist-infested Manko gram panchayat (GP) on Wednesday recorded a high of 77.4 per cent polling to the post of panchayat samiti member. A tight security blanket was thrown over bordering Manko gram panchayat in view of its proximity to the Maoist hot-bed of Saranda forest in the neighbouring Jharkhand.Sundargarh District Panchayat Officer (DPO) Guruva Singh said 10 candidates were in the fray.On the other hand, Kenabhata gram panchayat in Labhuniapara block that went to polls also to elect a samiti member, reported a low voting at 48 per cent. Five candidates were in the fray.Election to the post of sarpanch at Kutra gram panchayat in Kutra block recorded a decent polling of 68 per cent to seal the fate of 15 candidates.The DPO said results would be declared on Thursday followed by official notifications the following day.Elections to the three posts were deferred following death of candidates during the February polls.