Jharkhand betters 2019 turnout in first phase with 64.86 %, peaceful voting defying extremists calls

Ranchi, November 13: Jharkhand recorded 64.86 per cent voter turnout at 5 pm across the 43 assembly constituencies which went to polls in the first phase on Wednesday, surpassing 63.9 per cent voting in the 2019 assembly elections.

The Election Commission, in a press release, said the phase-1 polling in Jharkhand concluded peacefully. “Polling was marked by a festive mood and enthusiastic participation across all districts, with large tribal populations, including areas affected by Left Wing Extremism. Voters from diverse groups including first-time voters, the elderly, women, PwD and tribals among others were seen exercising their franchise at polling stations across the 15 districts that went to polls today, undeterred by threats and boycott calls,” the EC said.

The outcome will decide the fate of 683 candidates vying for legislative seats, including 17 general seats, 20 reserved for Scheduled Tribes, and six for Scheduled Castes.

The EC said in the Budha Pahad area in the Garhwa district, once considered a stronghold of extremists, long queues, and peaceful polling at Hesatu polling station signalled the deep penetration of democratic ethos.

For the first time, this polling station was set up in the Budha Pahad area for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, allowing residents to vote in their villages.

In the Manoharpur and Jaganathpur Assembly constituencies of West Singhbhum district, voters chose to cast their vote despite boycott posters and threat calls by extremists. At polling stations in Sonapi in the Jagannathpur constituency and Rabangada in the Manoharpur constituency, security forces thwarted attempts to prevent voters from voting through boycott posters and blockades on the way.

Meticulous planning and constant vigil by the Commission have ensured that the Jharkhand elections this time have been smooth and streamlined, with no repolls recorded so far. Webcasting was in place in 100% of polling stations to ensure transparency of the voting process,” it added.

Most of the 43 seats which went to polls in the first phase in Jharkhand is witnessing straight contest between the ruling JMM-Congress-RJD-CPI-ML coalition and the BJP led NDA.

Out of the total 43 seats, JMM has fielded its candidates on 23 seats and Congress on 17 seats while RJD has fielded candidates on a total of five seats, out of which two are against alliance partner Congress claiming to be ‘friendly contest’.

In the NDA, BJP has declared candidates on 36 out of 43 seats while AJSU has fielded candidates on four seats, JD-U on two seats and Chirag Paswan’s LJP (R) on one seat.