Forty-three Assembly constituencies in Jharkhand recorded an approximate polling percentage of 64.86 per cent by 5 PM in the first phase of polls on Tuesday.
Jharkhand’s Additional Chief Electoral Officer, Dr Neha Arora, informed that the highest voting percentage was recorded in the Kharsawan constituency at 77.32 per cent, followed by Bahragora at 76.15 per cent, Lohardaga at 73.21 per cent, Potka at 72.29 per cent, and Mandar at 72.13 per cent in descending order.
The lowest voting percentage was recorded in Ranchi at 51.5 per cent, followed by Jamshedpur West at 55.95 per cent, Jamshedpur East at 56.72 per cent, Hazaribag at 57.65 per cent, and Kanke at 57.89 per cent in ascending order.
Dr Arora further stated that a total of 179 ballot units, 161 control units, and 420 VVPATs were replaced during the polls.
The Additional CEO mentioned that the total voting percentage is expected to rise as data continued to be received from various constituencies into the evening.
Meanwhile, voter enthusiasm prevailed over fear and terror in areas considered highly Naxal-affected in the state. As voting began, voters, showing their faith in democracy, left their homes and queued at polling booths to cast their votes.
In the area of polling booth number 254 at Primary School Kolbanga and polling booth number 255 at Utkramit Vidyalaya Rabanga in the Manoharpur Assembly constituency of West Singhbhum district, reports indicated that posters had been put up by Naxalites calling for a boycott of voting and threatening voters.
The security forces removed the posters, and peaceful voting continued. Voters here cast their ballots fearlessly under the protection of security personnel.
At seven polling booths in Kurumgarh, Gumla district, voting took place for the first time since the formation of the Jharkhand state. Due to severe extremism, voters had previously been deprived of their voting rights.
Voters from Budha Pahad, regarded as a Naxalite stronghold, also demonstrated their faith in democracy. In a place where people once feared leaving their homes due to Maoist threats, many enthusiastically exercised their franchise today.
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