Jharkhand assembly election: Voting concludes, 62.87 per cent turnout recorded in first phase

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) & VVPATs being packed at a polling booth in Lohardaga, as voting for the first phase of  Jharkhand Assembly Polls concludes.

62.87% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm in Jharkhand.

People cast their votes at a polling booth in Lohardaga district of Jharkhand.

27.41 percent of voters turnout recorded till 11 am in the Jharkhand Assembly election.

Congress candidate KN Tripathi said, ''I am carrying pistol for self-protection.''

Congress candidate KN Tripathi allegedly visited polling booth carrying his pistol. A clash broke out between BJP and Tripathi's supporters in Palamu. The EC has taken cognizance of the incident and ordered an investigation into the matter.

Voting percentage till 11 am:

Chatra (SC): 11.56%
Gumla: 12.70%
Bishrampur: 11.2%
Panki: 26.50%
Latehar (SC): 27%
Manika: 22.17%
Lohardaga: 21.27%
Bishunpur: 11.2%

PM Modi appeals people to exercise their right to vote for Jharkhand assembly election, tweets, "hase 1 of the Jharkhand elections is in progress. I urge those whose constituencies go to the polls today to vote in large numbers & enrich the festival of democracy." 

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Phase 1 of the Jharkhand elections is in progress. I urge those whose constituencies go to the polls today to vote in large numbers & enrich the festival of democracy.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 30, 2019

Voting delayed in two polling booths in Latehar - Ambawtikar and Ashram school booths, due to techical snag.

I have made every possible effort for the development of Lohardaga. I want to reduce the problems of citizens: BJP candidate Sukhdev Bhagat

13.23 per cent voting was registered in the first two hours in Latehar assembly seat where the Left insurgents had killed four policemen just a few days ago.

Sanjay Jaiswal exudes confidence about Raghubar Das' victory in the election, says BJP will come back for the second consecutive term with full majority.

Breaking: Naxals blow up a bridge in Bishnupur in Gumla district. No injuries reported. Deputy Commissioner Shashi Ranjan says voting not affected. 

Voter turnout till 9 am:

Lohardaga: 11.68%
Daltonganj: 10.07%
Panki: 9.02%
Bishrampur: 9.5%
Chhatarpur (SC): 10.08%
Hussainabad: 09.07%
Garhwa: 11%
Bhawanathpur: 10%
Chatra (SC): 12.26%
Latehar (SC): 13.25 %
 

11.02 percent voter turnout recorded in Jharkhand till 9 am. 

Jharkhand: Voting continues at a polling booth in a Govt school in Lohardaga. Voting on 13 constituencies in the state for the first phase of elections is underway. #JharkhandAssemblyPolls

Jharkhand: Voting continues at a polling booth in a Govt school in Lohardaga. Voting on 13 constituencies in the state for the first phase of elections is underway. #JharkhandAssemblyPolls pic.twitter.com/IiD3rIR50M

— ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2019

Bharatiya Janata Party president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah urges people of Jharkhand to exercise their right to vote for the assembly election and choose a full majority government in the state. 

झारखंड को भ्रष्टाचार व नक्सलवाद से मुक्त रखने और यहाँ विकास की गति को बनाये रखने के लिए पुनः एक स्थिर, निर्णायक और पूर्ण बहुमत वाली सरकार आवश्यक है। प्रथम चरण के सभी मतदाताओं से अपील करता हूँ कि अधिक से अधिक संख्या में मतदान कर झारखंड को विकास के पथ पर अग्रसर रखने में योगदान दें।

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 30, 2019

Visuals: Voting underway in Chatra constituency in Jharkhand

Jharkhand: Voting underway at polling booth number 472 in Chatra. Voting on 13 constituencies in the state for the first phase of elections will be held today. #JharkhandAssemblyPolls pic.twitter.com/RpBAy4EKAX

— ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2019

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das appeals people to come out and vote in large numbers. "I appeal to all to vote in large numbers. Your one vote is important for the development of the state," he said. 

Visual: First phase of polling for 13 seats begins in Jharkhand

First phase of polling for 13 seats begins in Jharkhand

Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/9ZdbpSmJd3 pic.twitter.com/pxs0zEWUH1

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) November 30, 2019

Polling began at 7 am and will conclude at 3 pm today. 

Prominent candidates in the fray are BJP nominee and Jharkhand Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi and Jharkhand PCC president and ex-IPS officer Rameshwar Oraon. Former BJP chief whip Radhakrishna Kishore, who was denied ticket from Chhatarpur, is contesting on AJSU party ticket from the same seat.

The opposition alliance of the JMM, Congress and RJD is contesting in four, six and three constituencies, respectively.

The BJP is contesting in 12 seats in the first phase, while it is supporting Independent Vinod Singh from Hussainabad.

By dialling 1950, voters will be able to register complaints on poll-related issues, EC officials said.

Voting will take place across 3,906 polling stations, out of which 989 will have webcasting facilities, an Election Commission release said.

Seats for which polling will take place are Chatra, Gumla, Bishunpur, Lohardaga, Manika, Latehar, Panki, Daltonganj, Bishrampur, Chhatarpur, Hussainabad, Garhwa and Bhawanathpur.