Despite Maoists threats to the people against participating in the panchayat polls, the rural
population of naxal infested blocks of Ghatshila, Dumaria, Ghorabandha and Musaboni participated
overwhelmingly in the elections to exercise their franchise.
The poll percentage till 1:00 pm was Musabani -49.27%, Dumaria -53.86%, Gurabandha -61.92 % and
Ghatshila 56.18 per cent.
"In the past too, Maoists have been giving a poll boycott call. But the people here are brave enough
to face every challenge and exercise their franchise. In the last Assembly polls too, the participation
of the people was overwhelming. Despite the heat wave, voters actively participated in the process,”
said a social activist of Ghatshila.
Meanwhile district administration officials said all necessary initiatives were taken to hold free and
fair polling. Jadhav Vijaya Narayan Rao, Deputy Commissioner, East Singhbhum said that the first
phase of polling concluded peacefully with no incident of violence reported so far. She expressed
happiness over the response from the voters and said that everything went off smoothly.
"The good thing is that people responded to the panchayat elections overwhelmingly and the
administration is quite happy," said deputy commissioner and district election officer.
Another district official said that though Maoists have put up posters asking people to boycott polls
and threatening candidates like Musaboni under Ghatshila sub-division , security has been beefed
up in areas said to be dominated by them.
"We had intensified patrolling and combing operations 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 have also urged police superintendents of neighbouring States to pace up vigilance
exercises at their end," said SSP.
A candidate for panchayat samiti member from Ghurabandha panchayat lodged a complaint with
the sector magistrate at around 1 pm after not finding her name and poll symbol (pair of slippers) in
the ballot paper at Booth No. 29 in Utkramit Madhya Vidyalaya, Kasiabera in Ghorabandha block,
around 100 km from city.
The East Singhbhum administration is all set for the first phase of panchayat polls tomorrow. Polling
will take place at Jamshedpur, Patamda and Bodam--naxal infested areas.
About 600 vehicles were requisitioned to send the polling staff. The polling staff left for their
destination from the Jamshedpur Co-operative College ground. The district administration is making
all necessary efforts to ensure the smooth conduct of the polls.
DC said that they have completed the preparations for the panchayat elections in the district. In the
second phase of the elections, voting will take place at Jamshedpur, Patamda and Bodam.