Jharkhand witness 62.87% voting amid a few violence incidents
Jharkhand witness 62.87% voting amid a few violence incidents
Ranchi/ New Delhi, Nov 30 (HS): Jharkhand today witnessed a total of 62.87 percent of voting amid some incidents of violence during first phase of elections on 13 seats in the state. The voting started at 7 AM today and ended up at 3 PM.
There are 189 candidates in the fray for these constituencies including 15 women candidates. The maximum number of 28 candidates are in Bhawanathpur seat, while in Chatra, only 9 candidates are contesting the elections. The fate of a former union minister, a current minister, nine former ministers, 10 current MLAs and a state party president of the Congress Party is to be decided in 22 seats. The result of the election will come on 23 December.
All the 13 seats that went to polls today in the first phase of polling are naxal affected areas. Up to 3 PM, 56.59 percent voting was recorded in Chatra, 67.30 percent in Gumla, 67.04 percent in Bishunpur, 57.61 percent in Manika. Besides, Latehar polled 61.26, Panki 64.10 percent, Daltonganj 63.90, Vishrampur 61.60, Chhatarpur 62.30, Hussainabad 60.90 per cent, Lohardaga 64.16, Garhwa 66.04 and Bhawanathpur polled 65.52 per cent.
Some incidents of violence were reported at some places including a bomb blast carried out by naxalites that blew up a bridge in Gumla district’s Bishnupur. “But the voting underwent peacefully,” said Deputy Commissioner Shashi Ranjan.
In another incident, Congress and BJP supporters clashed in Kosiyara of Chanpur block of Daltonganj assembly constituency. During this, KN Tripathi of Congress was seen waving revolver.
This is the fourth assembly election in Jharkhand since 2000 when the state was carved out of Bihar. A total of 37,83,055 voters, including 18,01,356 women casted their vote in the first phase.
According to the Election Commission, the enthusiasm of the people in voting remains intact. Divyang and elderly voters also used their votes extensively in the first phase of voting. The district administration at different polling seats made special arrangements for differently abled and elderly people.
