Jharkhand: Anti-Maoist Campaigns Yield Results As Many Villages Get Local Polling Booths First Time In 20 Years, High Voter Turnouts

As the first round of polling in Jharkhand concluded on Monday (13 May), Singhbhum recorded the highest voter turnout at 63.14 per cent, followed by Khunti with 62.82 per cent, Lohardaga with 62.60 per cent, and Palamu with 59.99 per cent.

This year, following an intensive anti-Maoist campaign and the establishment of CRPF camps, polling booths were set up in Rengdahatu, Murmura, Tensara and Siamba, as per a report by The New Indian Express.

Voting proceeded peacefully under tight security, according to CRPF Assistant Commandant Jagannath Jena, marking the first time in 20 years that these villages had local polling booths.

The CRPF Commandant also explained that previous security concerns necessitated relocating polling booths up to 25 km away, making it difficult for villagers to vote. This year, with improved security, villagers turned out in large numbers to vote in a free and fair environment.

Singhbhum had the highest number of vulnerable booths at 524, prompting extensive security measures.

Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar reported that no violent incidents occurred at any polling booths in Jharkhand.

However, a few FIRs were filed for Model Code of Conduct violations, including one against Congress MLA Shilpi Neha Tirkey for allegedly holding a public meeting near a polling booth in Mandar under the Khunti Lok Sabha seat.

In Singhbhum, Khunti and Lohardaga, long queues were seen at polling booths, with high enthusiasm among voters, especially women in Khunti who arrived in traditional attire. A total of 45 candidates contested four seats in the first phase of the Jharkhand elections, with 64,37,460 voters casting their ballots at 519 booths across four Lok Sabha constituencies.