Jharkhand Assembly Elections Phase 3: Peaceful Voting On 17 Seats With 61.93% Turnout

The assembly elections in Jharkhand became a multi-cornered fight with the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) breaking off from BJP to fight the elections on its own and other regional parties such as JVM among others already in the competition.

The voting commenced in all 17 constituencies at 7 am amid tight security arrangements. (Image: PTI)

Ranchi: Voting for the third of the five-phase Assembly elections in Jharkhand peacefully concluded with a turnout of 61.93 per cent was recorded as the voters in all 17 constituencies exercised their franchise till 5 pm. According to Election Commission data, the state recorded 61.93 per cent polling in the third phase. The highest polling was recorded in Silli at 76.98 per cent, while the lowest was in Ranchi at 49.1 per cent. Voting ended for 12 of the 17 assembly seats at 3 pm in the third phase of the polls, while process ended for the Ranchi, Hatia, Kanke, Ramgarh and Barkatha assembly seats at 5 pm. The voting commenced in all 17 constituencies at 7 am amid tight security arrangements. The constituencies that went for polls were Kodarma, Barkatha, Barhi, Barkagaon, Ramgarh, Mandu, Hazaribag, Simaria (SC), Dhanwar, Gomia, Bermo, Ichagarh, Silli, Khijri (ST), Ranchi, Hatia and Kanke (SC). According to Election Commission, 45.14 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm in the third phase of polling in Jharkhand assembly elections. Voting percentage till 11 am was 29.44 per cent. There are a total of 309 candidates including 32 females whose fates were decided by 56,06,743 voters including 26,73,991 women and 95 third gender. Jharkahnd Governor Draupdi Murmu cast her vote at ATI Ranchi while AJSU president Sudesh Mahtyo cast his vote along with his wife at Silli. Jayant Sinha cast his vote in Hazaribagh.

We as District Administration celebrate these moments!

Savitri Devi Ji aged 107 yrs casted her vote at booth 337 Railway Training Centre #Ranchi She is motivation! @ceojharkhand@ECISVEEP@SpokespersonECI@rmray#RanchiVotes #GoVoteRanchi pic.twitter.com/fXF4hjdMve — DC Ranchi (@DC_Ranchi) December 12, 2019

A newly married couple cast their votes at polling booth number 225 of Hazaribagh. Priyanka was married on Wednesday night and she came with her husband for voting on Thursday morning. Maoist leader Maharaja Parmanik's parents cast their votes at Ichagarh. In the third phase the key candidates were three ministers -- CP Singh, Ramchandra Sahis and Neera Yadav, Former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi and former Deputy Chief Minister and All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) president Sudesh Mahto. Of the 17 seats, BJP, JMM and Congress had won 10, three and two seats respectively in the 2014 Assembly elections. There is a direct fight on between the BJP, Congress and JMM candidates on seven seats. For the Silli seat the fight is between AJSU president Sudesh Mahto and JMM sitting legislator Seema Devi. There is a triangular fight on six seats. For some seats the fight is four-cornered or multi-cornered.

#JharkhandKaVoteParv के तीसरे चरण में 17 विधानसभा सीटों पर हुए मतदान में दोपहर 3 बजे तक 57.41% मतदाताओं ने अपने मताधिकार का प्रयोग किया है।मतदान के लिए लोगो मे भारी उत्साह है। #CEOJharkhand #SVEEPJharkhand

— CEO Jharkhand Election (@ceojharkhand) December 12, 2019

The assembly  elections in Jharkhand became a multi-cornered fight with the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) breaking off from BJP to fight the elections on its own and other regional parties such as JVM among others already in the competition. The momentum for the polls in the third phase has gained pace with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressing two rallies in Hazaribagh and Bokaro on December 9. Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) have entered into a coalition to defeat BJP, which is seeking to return to power under the incumbent Chief Minister Raghubar Das. The first phase of the election in the state took place on November 30 while the second round was held on December 7. The fourth phase will be conducted on December 16, and the fifth and last phase on December 20. The counting of votes will take place on December 23. (With inputs from agencies)