48% voting in Jharkhand till 11 am, presiding officer removed

In the first six hours of the second and final phase of polling in Jharkhand, nearly 48 per cent of around 1.23 crore voters exercised their franchise on Wednesday in 38 assembly constituencies, officials said.

IMAGE: People queue up for voting at a polling booth in Dumka, Jharkhand, in second phase of assembly polls on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI on X

Polling began at 7 am in 14,218 booths across 12 districts and will continue till 5 pm.

However, polling in 31 booths will end at 4 pm though people standing in the queue at that time will be able to exercise their franchise, the officials said.

The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) is seeking to retain power riding on its welfare schemes, while the BJP-headed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is trying to wrest it.

"A voter turnout of 47.92 per cent was recorded till 1 PM. Voting has been peaceful," an Election Commission official said.

The highest voting turnout of 53.83 per cent was reported from Pakur, followed by 52.21 per cent from Jamtara, 51.26 per cent from Ramgarh and 50.28 per cent from Dumka district.

In the first six hours of polling, Godda recorded a turnout of 50.27 per cent, Deoghar 49.83 per cent, Hazaribag 48.62 per cent, Giridih 48.01 per cent, Sahebganj 47.51 per cent and Dhanbad 43.16 per cent.

The lowest turnout was recorded in Bokaro at 42.52 per cent till 1 pm.

BJP MP from Godda Nishikant Dubey on Wednesday said he had filed a complaint with the Election Commission against a presiding officer for allegedly 'favouring a ruling party candidate' in Madhupur assembly constituency during voting.

Dubey claimed that following his complaint, the officer was arrested.

'I filed a complaint with the Election Commission against the presiding officer at booth number 111 in Madhupur, Deoghar district, for favouring Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate and Minister Hafizul Hassan. The commission took my complaint seriously and arrested the officer,' Dubey told reporters in Deoghar.

However, the Deoghar administration said the officer was replaced after being found too close to the voting compartment, which is against Election Commission rules.

An official statement from Deoghar administration clarified that the presiding officer at booth number 111 had been replaced.

'During monitoring in the webcasting room, the presiding officer was found too close to the voting compartment, which violates Election Commission rules and demonstrates gross negligence in performing duties,' the statement read.

The returning officer has been instructed to conduct a thorough investigation and take legal action if necessary, the statement added.

Deoghar SP Ambar Lakra clarified that the officer was replaced, not arrested.

"The officer has been replaced, and a probe has been initiated. Further action will be based on the investigation report," Lakra told PTI.

The JMM alleged that the officer was removed based on a baseless complaint.

"The officer was removed on a baseless complaint, which will be proven false in the investigation. What's interesting is that the Election Commission acts quickly on Dubey's complaints, but when we file complaints, they go unheard," said JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey.

A total of 1.23 crore voters, including 60.79 lakh women and 147 third-gender electors, are eligible to exercise their franchise on Wednesday, another official said.

Altogether 528 candidates, including Chief Minister and JMM leader Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri of the BJP, are trying their luck in the second phase of the elections.

Taking to X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, 'Today is the second and last phase of the great festival of democracy in Jharkhand. I urge all voters to participate in it enthusiastically and create a new record of voting. On this occasion, I especially congratulate all my young friends who are going to vote for the first time. Your every vote is the strength of the state.'

The CM also said the second phase of polling would 'play an important role in the creation of golden Jharkhand'.

'To save Jharkhand from breaking up, we have to unite and vote in large numbers. Today again, voters have to exercise their franchise with the same enthusiasm and zeal,' he wrote on X.

'Today the second and final phase of the great festival of democracy is being organised in Jharkhand. Today voting is being held in 38 assembly seats...In the first phase of voting, people of 43 assembly constituencies exercised their franchise with enthusiasm. All sections voted for their rights and a strong Jharkhand. Those who were conspiring against Jharkhand were given a befitting reply,' Soren said on the microblogging site.

Urging people to vote, he said, 'On this important occasion, an appeal is made to all of you to reach your booth centres in large numbers and exercise your right to vote and inspire everyone else too. Many best wishes and greetings to all the voters, polling officials, and soldiers of the JMM and INDIA alliance who are participating in the voting today.'

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi also urged voters to come out for a better future.

Rahul Gandhi posted on X: 'I appeal to my voter brothers and sisters of Jharkhand to vote in large numbers today to protect their interests and for a better future. Your every vote for INDIA will protect your water, forest and land and will make your life prosperous with 7 guarantees like Maiyan Samman Yojana.'

Priyanka Gandhi also urged electors to make INDIA bloc candidates victorious.

'Dear brothers and sisters of Jharkhand, Vote in maximum numbers for yourself, for the strong future of your children, for protection of 'Jal, Jungle, Jameen', for democracy, constitution and social justice and for the better future of Jharkhand. Use your power given by the Constitution to elect a government that works only for you and takes you forward. Make INDIA victorious with a huge majority,' she said on the microblogging site.

Eighteen of the 38 constituencies are in the Santhal Pargana region comprising six districts -- Godda, Deoghar, Dumka, Jamtara, Sahibganj and Pakur.

The remaining 18 seats are in the North Chotanagpur division and two in South Chotanagpur.

Of the total 14,218 polling stations, the responsibility of the entire voting process at 239 is in the hands of women and 22 are manned by persons with disabilities (PwDs), Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar said.

The first phase of elections was held on November 13, and the counting of votes will take place on November 23.