The fifth phase (state second phase) of polling for Ranchi Lok Sabha segment passed off peacefully with around 63.38 per cent of voters exercising their franchise.
Long queues of people, which included elderly men and women, were standing in morning for casting their votes. Polling, which started in the morning 7 am gained momentum as day passed. Compared to previous election there is drop of 0.30 per cent in polling as per the record of the ECI.
From Ranchi Lok Sabha seat there are 20 candidates in fray, but the main fight is between BJP Sanjay Seth, Congress Subodh Kant Sahay and Ranchi sitting MP Ram Tahal Choudhary contesting the election has independent candidate.
Team India former Captain and Chennai Super Kings Captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is playing IPL matches reached State Capital on Monday to cast his vote. Dhoni, in the afternoon along with his father Paan Singh, mother Devki Devi, wife Sakshi Dhoni and daughter Jeeva reached Jawahar Vidya Mandir, Shyamali Colony the polling booth to cast his vote. Large number of media persons and his fans gathered outside the polling booth to have a glimpse of their favorite cricketer.
Large number of voters mainly from Shyamali Colony and Doranda who had gathered in school to cast their votes were seen clicking photographs, selfie with Dhoni. But the Chennai Super Kings captain disappointed his fans and media persons as he did not talked to anyone only showing his inked finger.
The polling in Ranchi Lok Sabha seat also shrouded with controversy as JMM executive president Hemant Soren along his wife Kalpana Soren reached the polling booth wearing stole having symbol of JMM.
The BJP has approached Election Commission of India (ECI) staging a protest alleging that JMM leader had violated model code of conduct. As per model code of conduct and directions issued by district administration no political parties can put up party flags or banners within 100 metres perimeter of polling booths.
In Ranchi polling was peaceful as district administration had made elaborate arrangements. At Durga Mandir polling booth at Upper Bazaar voters started turning up to polling booths since morning. Ekta Agarwal, 19-year-old college going student and first time voter said, “I am very much excited as I am going to cast my votes for first time. Development issue and national security is the main issue with which I am going to cast my vote.”
Echoing the views of Ekta, Madhu Devi (45 year) old woman said, “Political parties is main criteria for me, candidates is secondary.”
However, the scene at government school, Lake Road large number of voters cast their votes for change. Mohammed Idris, 25-year-old youth said, “This election is for change. The results will be surprising for all.”
At the polling booth at Government High School, Karam Toli, the voters complaint about lack of facilities such as drinking water at polling booths. The security personnel deployed at polling booths also complaint about delay in providing food packets to polling staff and security personnel.
The district administration had erected 2376 polling booths.
The Ranchi Lok Sabha seat comprises five assembly segments with total voters around 19.10 lakh.