Jharkhand recorded an impressive 62 per cent voter turnout in the first phase of Assembly elections on Tuesday.
Polling was peaceful in all 13 Naxal-affected constituencies despite a boycott call by Maoists.
“Barring sporadic incidents of damage to EVMs, polling in all 13 constituencies was peaceful with an impressive turnout of around 62 per cent,” said Chief Electoral Officer P.K. Jajoria.
In view of the Maoist threat, voting started as early as 7 a.m. and ended by 3 p.m.
Officials said a landmine was detected at Hariharganj under the Hussainabad constituency in Palamu district but was defused. Significantly, a large number of women voters turned up at the polling stations to exercise their franchise.
The 13 seats that went to the polls on Tuesday are spread over the six Maoist-affected districts of Palamu, Gumla, Lohardaga, Chatra, Garhwa and Latehar.
Altogether, 199 candidates, including 10 sitting MLAs and a Minister, were in the fray in the first phase. The second phase polling for 20 seats will be held on December 2.
Modi woos Chaibasa
In the second leg of his poll campaign in the tribal-dominated areas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed a rally at Chaibasa and asked the voters to give the BJP a full majority for complete development of the State.
“I appeal to you all not to give a fractured mandate as people know the difficulties of coalition politics. Have faith in a chaiwala [tea seller] and give majority to the BJP to form a stable government,” he said. He cited examples of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh where the tribal communities had voted for the BJP to form a stable government.