Forty-three Assembly constituencies in Jharkhand saw an estimated voter turnout of 64.86 per cent by 5 PM on Tuesday in the first phase of elections.
According to Jharkhand's Additional Chief Electoral Officer, Dr. Neha Arora, Kharsawan constituency recorded the highest turnout at 77.32 per cent, followed by Baharagora at 76.15 per cent, Lohardaga at 73.21 per cent, Potka at 72.29 per cent, and Manadar at 72.13 per cent.
The lowest turnout was in Ranchi with 51.5 per cent, followed by Jamshedpur West with 55.95 per cent, Jamshedpur East at 56.72 per cent, Hazaribag at 57.65 per cent, and Kanke at 57.89 per cent.
Dr. Arora further said that a total of 179 ballot units, 161 control units, and 420 VVPATs were replaced throughout the day. She also noted that the final voting percentage might increase as data continued to come in from various constituencies.
In some of the state’s Naxal-affected areas, voter enthusiasm overshadowed fears of violence. As polling opened, voters showed confidence in the democratic process, leaving their homes to line up at polling stations.
At polling booth numbers 254 (Primary School Kolbanga) and 255 (Utkramit Vidyalaya Rabanga) under the Manoharpur Assembly constituency in West Singhbhum district, security forces removed Naxalite posters that threatened voters and called for a boycott of the election. Voting proceeded peacefully, with voters casting ballots securely in the presence of security personnel.
For the first time since Jharkhand’s formation, voting took place at seven polling stations in Kurumgarh, Gumla district, which had previously been too affected by extremism for safe voting.
Even in Budha Pahad, a region known as a Naxalite stronghold, residents came out to vote. In a significant show of democratic participation, voters there exercised their rights despite a history of fear stemming from Maoist activity.
Addressing a press conference Chief Electoral Officer, K Ravi Kumar said that voting in the first phase was completely peaceful. He said that the voting in urban areas has been slightly less than in rural areas. Less than one per cent of EVMs and VVPATs have been changed during the mock poll and voting.
He said that during the voting process, there was information about influencing the voting from some places, which was resolved in time. In response to a question, he said that a complaint was received regarding the release of the election manifesto by a political party during the silence period, which has been brought to the notice of the Election Commission of India. At the same time, a complaint has also been received about a press conference during the silence period, for which a report has been sought from the District Election Officer.
State Police Nodal Officer AV Homkar said that in the first phase of polling, 2249 booths were critical (Naxal affected), where conducting peaceful elections was a big challenge. Extensive security arrangements were made for this. He said that for this, 600 companies of paramilitary forces, 60 companies of state armed forces, 15291 state police personnel and about 14000 home guard personnel were deployed.
In this phase, 286 booths were in shadow areas, where separate arrangements for communication had to be made. Polling personnel were delivered to 225 booths through heli dropping. Despite this, Naxalites had tried to influence the polling in Chaibasa district, but their intentions were foiled in time. On the other hand, a CRPF Jawan was injured in Latehar district. He was shot in the hand. He has been sent to Delhi by air ambulance for better treatment. The circumstances under which he was shot are being investigated. He said that six cases have been registered on the charges of creating chaos during voting.
- He said that the polling personnel have started returning from most of the polling stations after voting. The Superintendents of Police of the concerned district have been instructed to constantly monitor the arrangements for the safe return of the polling personnel. The polling personnel who were heli dropped will be brought back by helilift on Thursday.
