Jharkhand records 65.46 per cent polling in 2nd phase

About 65.46 per cent electorate on Tuesday exercised their franchise in the second of the five-phase polling for the 20 Maoist-hit assembly constituencies as the day passed off peacefully.

Chief Electoral Officer P K Jajoria said, 65.46 per cent votes were cast in the 2nd phase polling.

In the first phase polling for 13 seats on November 25, 61.92 per cent voters exercised their franchise.  Stating that the gradual increase in the turnout would strengthen democracy, Jajoria said the polling concluded peacefully in all the constituencies.

The fate of 223 candidates, including former chief ministers Arjun Munda and Madhu Koda, three incumbent ministers and 18 sitting members of Legislative Assembly, was sealed in the electronic voting machines.

Prominent among the candidates include Dulal Bhuyan (Congress) from Jugsalai, Jaba Manjhi (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) from Manoharpur, Neil Tirkey (JMM) from Simdega and Bandhu Tirkey (Trinamool Congress) and Bimla Pradhan (Bharatiya Janata Party), both from Simdega.

The CEO said all the constituencies were alerted following the Maoist attack on the CRPF personnel in the neighbouring Chhattisgarh on Monday. "Some of the polling personnel have been brought back by helicopter while others will return on Wednesday morning," Jajoria said.

The 20 Maoist constituencies where polling was held on are spread over seven districts -- Seraikela-Kharsawan, West and East Singhbhum, Khunti, Simdega, Ranchi and Gumla.

Polling was held from 7 am to 3 pm in 18 seats while the exercise was carried on until 5 am in Jamshedpur (East) and Jamshedpur (West). Re-polling at a booth in Garhwa and two in Chhatarpur seat also ended incident-free.

With 76 per cent polling, Jagannathpur witnessed maximum turnout, Jajoria said.

Polling for the third phase of elections in 17 seats will be held on December 9 and the two remaining phases would be held on December 14 and 20.

The Jharkhand assembly is an 81-member house.