Jharkhand: 64.44% polling recorded in first phase

An estimated 65 per cent polling was recorded in the first phase of Assembly elections in Jharkhand on Saturday. Thirteen constituencies spread over six districts - Chatra, Palamu, Gumla, Garhwa, Latehar and Lohardaga went to polls.
Maximum over 67 per cent voting was registered in Gumla constituency, followed by 67 per cent in Bishunpur and Garhwa 66 percent. Sources said the figure is likely to increase as voters were still in queues when the polling closed at 3 pm. There has been no report of any untoward incident, so far. 

The five-phase Jharkhand Assembly elections began on Saturday amid tight security. ITBP is on polling booth duty in Naxal affected Gumla, Chatra, Latehar, Palamu districts.A total of 37,83,055 electorate, including 18,01,356 women and five third-gender voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the first phase across six districts.

The fate of 189 candidates, including 15 women nominees, will be decided in the first phase of the polling.

The BJP, which is seeking a second straight win under the leadership of Chief Minister Raghubar Das, is contesting in 12 seats in the first phase while it is supporting Independent candidate Vinod Singh from Hussainabad.

Challenging the BJP is the opposition alliance of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

While the Congress is contesting in six seats in the first phase, the JMM is fighting in four and the RJD in three constituencies in the first phase.

The rest of the four phases for the 81-member assembly will be held on December 7, 12, 16 and 20.

Counting is scheduled on December 23.