PTI photo The overall voter turnout in the first phase of the Jharkhand election on Wednesday, for 43 seats, was 64.8%, higher than 63.7% for these 43 seats in 2019.
Rural areas, mostly tribal belts in JMM ’s stronghold of Kolhan division, saw brisk voting since the morning, while urban apathy led to low turnouts across constituencies overlapping Ranchi and Jamshedpur as 1.4 crore voters cast their ballots. Maoist boycott calls fall flat as voters flock to Jarkhand booths At 79.
1%, Kharsawan (ST seat) saw the highest turnout, while Ranchi recorded the lowest turnout, 52.3%. Jamshedpur East and West segments settled at 57% and 56.
3%, respectively. “In Budha Pahad area in Garhwa district, once considered a stronghold of extremists, long queues, and peaceful polling at Hesatu Polling station signalled the deep penetration of democratic ethos..
. this polling station was set up in Budha Pahad area for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, allowing residents to vote in their own village,” Election Commission said on Wednesday. Even as voters lined up outside booths, hectic campaigning for the second phase of the election for the 38 remaining seats, in the crucial JMM strongholds of tribal heartland Santhal Pargana and coal-rich Koylanchal, picked up pace.
The final phase of voting will be held on Nov 20. Early in the day, Odisha governor Raghubar Das voted in Jamshedpur (East), while chief minister Hemant Soren and his wife, Kalpana Soren, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh Naraya.