Jharkhand polls: Voting commences in first of five phases, results on December 23

first of five-phase polling began in 13 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand on Saturday. voting commenced at 7 am and will end at 3 pm, Election Commission officials said. A total of 37,83,055 electorate, including 18,01,356 women and five third- voters are eligible to exercise ir franchise in first phase across six districts.

First phase begins

fate of 189 candidates, including 15 women minees, will be decided in first phase of polling in Chatra, Gumla, Bishunpur, Lohardaga, Manika, Latehar, Panki, Daltonganj, Bishrampur, Chhatarpur, Hussainab, Garhwa, and Bhawanathpur.

Key candidates in fray are Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minee and state Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi from Bishrampur and state Congress president Rameshwar Oraon from Lohardaga seat. Oraon is taking on former state Congress chief Sukhdeo Bhagat after latter joined BJP recently.

Former BJP chief whip Rhakrishna Kishore, who was denied ticket from Chhatarpur, is contesting on an All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) party ticket from same seat.

BJP, which is seeking a second straight win under leership of Chief Minister Raghubar Das, is contesting in 12 seats in first phase while it is supporting Independent candidate Vid Singh from Hussainab.  AJSU party is contesting on its own.

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Challenging BJP is opposition alliance of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal. While Congress is contesting in six seats in first phase, JMM is fighting in four and RJD in three constituencies in first phase.  or parties contesting elections are Babulal Marandi's Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), Janata Dal (United) and Left parties.

Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer Vinay Kumar Choubey said a total of 4,892 polling stations have been set up, out of which 1,262 would have webcasting facilities.'

ditional Director General of Police and state police dal Officer Murari Lal Meena said a total of 1,097 polling stations in Naxal-affected areas were marked as hypersensitive and 461 polling stations as sensitive.

  rest of four phases for 81-member assembly will be held on December 7, 12, 16 and 20. Counting is scheduled for December 23.

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