In the last phase of polling for the Lok Sabha election, all eyes have now shifted to Santhal region in Jharkhand where voting will take place for three parliamentary seats of Dumka, Rajmahal and Godda.

Voting is to be held on 1 June on 3 seats of Santhal. For security, the borders of Bihar and West Bengal have been sealed. Chief Election Officer K. Ravi Kumar said that voting is on Saturday in Dumka, Rajmahal and Godda parliamentary constituencies. There are 14 candidates in Rajmahal and 19 each in Godda and Dumka. The Chief Election Officer said that every booth of Dumka, Rajmahal and Godda will be monitored through webcasting from the control room. One camera has been installed inside and outside each booth. Observers are also keeping an eye on the entire situation. He said that polling personnel have reached the polling stations. All polling personnel will return the same day after voting.

Amidst the possibility of rain, every possible arrangement has been made to increase the voting percentage. On the day of voting, arrangements have been made to bring and take voters from remote areas to the polling station by vehicle. Arrangements have also been made to bring senior and handicapped voters to the polling station. He appealed that this time voting is throughout the day, take out time and vote with your family and neighbours. He was addressing a press conference at Nirvachan Sadan, Dhurva on Friday.

He said that security forces have been deployed at every booth to ensure fair and fear-free voting. The border of Bihar and West Bengal connected to the election area has been sealed. Bike riding quick response team has also been deployed. He informed that a driver of a private bus connected with election work has died in Deoghar. His family will be provided ex-gratia grant as per rules. He informed that since the implementation of the model code of conduct, illegal material and cash worth Rs. 134 crore, 75 lakh has been seized in Jharkhand till now.

BJP’s prestige is at stake as JMM founder Shibu Soren’s eldest daughter-in-law Sita Soren, who quit the party a month before the Lok Sabha election and joined the BJP, is contesting as the saffron party candidate from Dumka.

Nalin Soren, seven-time MLA of Sikaripara Assembly seat, is up against Sita Soren. The Dumka parliamentary seat is also important for the BJP because its State president Babulal Marandi has represented the constituency twice in 1998 and 1999. Winning Dumka has apparently become a matter of prestige for both the BJP and JMM, and the two parties have neither spared strength nor resources in their poll campaigns.

In Godda, sitting BJP MP Nishikant Dubey is locked in a direct contest against Congress candidate Pradeep Yadav. In the 2019 general election, Dubey got the lead in all six Assembly segments — Jarmundi, Madhupur, Deoghar, Poreyahat, Godda and Mahagama. In the previous Lok Sabha election, Yadav had contested the seat on a Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) ticket.

On the other hand, Rajmahal seat that is reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) is presently occupied by JMM where the party has fielded sitting MP Vijay Hansda, who is up against BJP candidate Tala Marandi.

Meanwhile, all schools and educational institutes will remain closed across the polling constituencies on June 1. Some educational centers are also used as polling booths, so security will remain heightened at these centers.

Further, all state government offices will remain closed during polling hours. Banks in some constituencies will also remain closed, on account of it being a Saturday. Liquor stores will be closed and sale of commercial liquor will be banned during polling hours.

All emergency and essential services such as hospitals, ambulance services, healthcare facilities and law enforcement facilities will remain open on June 1 across all constituencies. Pharmacies and grocery shops will also remain open.

Public transportation will remain active on its usual routes during its functioning hours. Some constituencies may also add some extra routes to facilitate voters on polling day.

Commercial establishments such as hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and theatres are expected to largely remain open.