8.12.14

Jharkhand Elections: Phase II


Conforming with the upward swing in voter turnout in the first phase of assembly elections on November 25, the second phase in 20 constituencies across seven Maoist-hit districts too recorded a higher voting percentage of 65.72% on Tuesday . Defying the Maoists who'd called for boycotting the elections, people came out in large numbers once polling began at 7 am. By 1 pm the turnout had reached an average of 50% in most segments. In the Saranda forest area of West Singbhum, tribal men and women trudged long distances to polling booths and this included villages which hadn't voted for years before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections fearing Maoists. There was no report of violence from any of the segment. Re-polling was held in Garhwa and Chattarpur constituencies, which saw a voter turnout of 74.66% and 60.15% respectively .
In Mandar, election was suspended for an hour after a minor scuffle between two groups. In Kharsawan, an EVM machine was reported to be out of order but was replaced immediately .
In the 2009 assembly elections, these 20 constituencies had recorded 60% turnout while the Lok Sabha elections the same year saw a voting percentage of 58%. The lowest voter turnout of 58% this time was recorded in Jamshedpur (East) while the highest of 76% was in Jagannathpur in West Singbhum. In East Singbhum, which registered a total poll per cent of 65.21%, Baharagora recorded 74%, Ghatshila 67%, Potka 66%, Jugsalai 69% and Jamshedpur (West) 60% turnout.In Sereikela Kharsawan, the turnout was 67.36% with 65% and 71% in Sereikela and Kharsawan respectively .
The Chaibasa polled 68%, Majhgaon 72%, Manoharpur 65% and Chakradharpur 65.30% turnout.

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