2nd Phase of Jharkhand Voting Sees 63% Turnout, 1 Dead in Violence
A total 47,24,968 voters will decide the fate of 260 candidates, the EC sources said.
An estimated 63.36 per cent votes were cast on Saturday, 7 December, in the second phase of election for the Assembly in Jharkhand where one person killed was in firing by security personnel near a polling booth.
Polling in 18 seats ended at 3 pm, while voters in Jamshedpur (East) – where Chief Minister Raghubar Das is in the fray – and Jamshedpur (West) constituencies exercised their franchise till 5 pm, an Election Commission (EC) release said.
- In West Singhbhum district, Naxalites torched an empty bus near Jojo Hatu village in Chaibasa constituency, said SP Inderjeet Mahata
- The voting commenced at 7 am amid tight security arrangements
- PM Narendra Modi had earlier during the day tweeted, urging voters to come out in large numbers to exercise their franchise.
- The five-phase Assembly polls concludes on 20 December
- Results will be declared on 23 December
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42,000 Security Personnel Deployed Across 20 Constituencies
As Jharkhand gears up for the second phase of polling in the Assembly elections, elaborate security arrangements have been made for “free, fair and peaceful polling,” the Election Commission said on Friday, 6 December.
More than 42,000 security personnel, including central forces, have been deployed in the 20 constituencies spread across seven districts of the tribal state, the police said, according to PTI.
Sixteen of the 20 constituencies going to the polls are reserved for scheduled tribe candidates and one for the scheduled caste, the EC release said.
Key Contestants to Watch out for in the Second Phase
Among the prominent leaders whose political future will be decided are Chief Minister Raghubar Das from Jamshedpur (East), where he will be challenged by his former Cabinet colleague and independent candidate Saryu Roy.
Jharkhand Assembly Speaker Dinesh Oraon is contesting from Sisai on a BJP ticket, while BJP candidate and Jharkhand Rural Development Minister Neelkanth Singh Munda is in the fray in Khunti. BJP state unit president Laxman Gilua is contesting from Chakradharpur.
The AJSU party candidate and Jharkhand Water Resources Minister Ramchandra Sahis is in the fray in the Jugsalai seat.
Former Jharkhand PCC president Pradeep Kumar Balmachu, who joined the AJSU party recently, is contesting from Ghatsila.
JD(U) President Salkhan Murmu is contesting from Majhgaon and JVM(P) candidate and former HRD Minister Bandhu Tirkey is contesting from Mandar.
Voting Begins for 20 Seats in Second Phase
People cast their votes at a polling station in Jharkhand's Chaibasa as voting begins for 20 seats in the second phase.
Armed Forces Deployed to Keep Tight Vigil in 1,711 Naxal-Affected Areas
Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer Vinay Kumar Choubey said, “Several of the constituencies going for this phase of polling are Naxal-affected. So, armed police have been deployed as a part of security measures,” according to PTI.
Out of a total of 6,066 polling stations, 949 have been declared 'critical' and 762 ‘sensitive' in Naxal-affected areas, Choubey said.
The CEO said that 101 polling stations have been relocated due to security reasons and free transport facility has been arranged for voters to reach these stations to exercise their franchise.
Firing Reported in Polling Booth in Jharkhand's Gumla
An incident of firing has been reported in a polling booth number 67 in Sisai constituency in Gumla district. The vehicle of Block Development Officer was also fired upon.
A CRPF team has beemn rushed for reinforcement. One has been recovered.
One Killed After Security Personnel Open Fire Outside Polling Booth
One person was killed as security personnel opened fire on assailants who police claimed tried to snatch their arms outside a polling booth in Jharkhand.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Murari Lal Meena said the man was killed when personnel of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) fired on the assailants near booth number 36 in Sisai constituency.
The injured persons have been admitted to hospital, said Meena, who is also the nodal officer for assembly election-related security measures.
Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer Vinay Kumar Choubey said the incident is being probed and polling in the booth has been stopped.
A police officer also suffered injuries when angry villagers resorted to stone pelting after the incident, police sources said.
BJP to Form Govt in Jharkhand With Absolute Majority: Rajiv Rudy
BJP to form govt in Jharkhand with absolute majority: Party's national spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy
(Source: PTI)
Repolling in One Booth in Jharkhand's Sesai Seat on Monday, 9 December
Repolling will be held in booth number 36 in Sesai assembly constituency on Monday, 9 December where polling was stopped following a violent incident that had occurred during the second of the five-phase polling.
The repolling was ordered by the Election Commission of India upon recommendation of Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer Vinay Kumar Choubey, an Election Commission release said.