Despite 48-hour Maoists bandh and threats to people against participating in the polls, the rural population of Seraikela and Adityapur participated overwhelmingly in the elections to exercise their franchise. The industrial hub of Adityapur and Gamharia in the neighbouring Seraikela Kharsawan district registered 61 per cent polling for Adityapur Municipal Council (AMC).
The urban local body which caters to a population of 72,431 voters in Adityapur and Gamharia, exercised their franchise to elect the chairman - a post reserved for an ST woman candidate this time - and 32 ward councillors.
A total of 183 candidates were in fray. While 176 have fought for the post of 32 ward councillors, seven are contesting for the seat of the municipal council’s chairperson. The fate of the candidates would be known on April 11.
Amid some stray incidents of interruption, the elections were held under tight security arrangements. “The good thing is that people responded to the municipal elections overwhelmingly and the administration is quite happy,” said Seraikela- Kharsawan deputy commissioner K N Jha said.
The Seraikela municipal council also witnessed incident free voting and registered 75 per cent polling.
While in rebel hit Chakulia block in the East Singhbhum district which shares its border with West Midnapore district of Bengal the voters came out in large number defying Maoist bandh calls to register 74.49 per cent of polling.
Two persons identified as Bablu Soy and Mohammed Akhtar were detained at booth number 10 at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Chakulia by the police for influencing voters with money while posing as poll agents.
ADM law and order East Singhbhum Ajit Shanker said that the two youths are being grilled over their presence at the booth and final
decision on their formal arrest would be taken in the evening. The civic polls for Chaibasa in West Singhbhum district witnessed 61.32 per cent voting.
“We had intensified patrolling and combing operation in the area to foil any possible Maoist violence and ensure free and fair polls. Apart from sealing the borders attached to neighbouring districts, we had also urged police superintendents of neighbouring States to pace up vigilance exercise at their end,” said a police official.