AMN / RANCHI

Campaigning is gaining momentum in the areas where assembly elections will be held for second and third phase in Jharkhand.

Twenty constituencies will go to polls in second phase on the 7th of December while polling in seventeen constituencies spread over eight districts, will be held in third phase on 12th of this month.

Senior Party leaders of BJP, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha, All Jharkhand Students Union are addressing election rallies. Besides Congress, leaders of RJD and left parties also holding public meetings to woo voters.

Tomorrow is the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers for fourth phase of assembly elections to be held on 16th of December. 230 candidates are left in the fray after scrutiny of papers.

Filing of nomination papers continue for the fifth and final phase.

Voting for the first phase of assembly elections was held yesterday during which an estimated 64.44 per cent polling was recorded.

64 % polling recorded in first phase of Jharkhand polls

An estimated 64.44 per cent polling was recorded in the first phase of Assembly elections in Jharkhand on Saturday.

Thirteen constituencies spread over six districts – Chatra, Palamu, Gumla, Garhwa, Latehar and Lohardaga – went to polls in this phase. Jharkhand, Chief Electoral Officer, Vinay Kumar Chaubey said that the percentage is likely to increase after receiving the final poll figures. Mr.Choubey said today’s polling was challenging as most of the polling booths were in naxal-infested areas.

Maximum over 71 percent voting was recorded in Lohardaga assembly constituency. While 70 percent voting was registered in Bishunpur followed by over 67 percent in naxal infested constituencies Latehar and Bhavnathpur. Voting percentage has increased more than 1.15 in comparison to 2014 assembly elections.

No major incident was reported during today polls. Electoral fortune of 189 candidates, including 15 women candidates, are in the fray.

These include Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravansi, State Congress Chief Ramesh Oraon and former Ministers Dadai Dubey, Bhanu Pratap Shahi, Radha Krishna Kishore and Kamlesh Singh.