Jharkhand Elections: Helicopter deploys polling parties to hinterlands

Ranchi: Preparations are in full swing as polling parties began deployment to conduct the first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections on November 13. Election personnel were dispatched on Monday to 225 polling stations situated in remote and inaccessible locations across five districts – West Singhbhum, Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla, and Garhwa.

Campaigning for the first phase will conclude Monday evening. Due to challenging terrain, several polling teams were transported via helicopter, while others reached their assigned locations by buses and trains. State Chief Electoral Officer K. Ravi Kumar confirmed that all necessary precautions have been taken to ensure fair and secure elections.

A significant number of polling stations in these five districts lie in dense forest areas and mountainous regions, with many classified as highly sensitive due to Maoist activity. Conducting a safe voting process at these locations poses a challenge for the election authorities. Consequently, polling personnel were dispatched in clusters with heightened security, some arriving two days in advance to ensure safety.

The teams will stay in secure clusters through Monday and Tuesday, heading to polling stations early on November 13. Polling is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. that day, with additional polling teams dispatched on Tuesday to other booths.

In the first phase, 1,37,10,717 voters, including 68,73,455 men, 68,36,959 women, and 303 individuals identifying as third gender, will decide the fate of 683 candidates vying for 43 Assembly seats. The second phase of polling is set for November 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23.