In a historic departure from decades of Maoist-led poll boycotts, residents of Tundi block in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district exercised their voting rights freely on Saturday, with no poll boycott call issued by the red rebels for the first time since 1984, officials confirmed.
Devyanti Majhia, 55, was among the many who participated in the electoral process without fear in Tundi, situated within the Giridih Lok Sabha constituency.
Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Madhvi Mishra reported a turnout of 56.77% in the block by 3 pm, marking a significant surge in voter enthusiasm.
Traditionally, Maoists have enforced poll boycotts by plastering school buildings and residential walls with posters, but notably refrained from doing so this year, breaking a four-decade trend.
"The Maoist stronghold has dwindled in the state, confining them to limited areas. This has contributed to the high turnout in these regions," explained a senior police officer.
Increased voter confidence was bolstered by regular visits from Dhanbad Senior Superintendent of Police H P Janardhan and his team to vulnerable polling booths, officials stated.
Of the 85 booths in the block, 34 were designated as Maoist-affected by the district administration.
Dinesh Mahtha, a voter, noted the resurgence of long queues, particularly among women, at polling stations after several years.
Reflecting on the region's transformation, Dhaneswar Singh, a resident of Maniadih whose younger brother was a victim of Maoist violence in 1984, asserted that fear of the red rebels had dissipated.
Sunil Choudhary, a schoolteacher in Tundi, declared the eradication of Maoists from the area, signifying a significant shift in the region's political landscape.
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