Peaceful & Record Voting in Phase 1 of Jharkhand Legislative Assembly Polls

Shashank Shekhar

Ranchi ( Jharkhand) : Elections to 13 Assembly Constituencies (AC) of Jharkhand spread over six districts (Garhwa, Palamu, Chatra, Latehar, Lohardaga and Gumla) was held on November 30, 2019, in the First Phase of Polls. Barring few minor incidents of IED blasts and scuffle between candidates, the poll went off peacefully even as the 13 ACs fell in the most naxal affected districts of Jharkhand. Over 64 % voters cast their votes in the first phase.

Altogether 4,162 out of 4,892 polling stations (more than 85%) were categorised as critical hence adequate security arrangements were made for the polls as 1,269 polling stations required dispatching polling teams two days in advance. Four choppers were deployed to drop 440 polling personnel to the polling stations, and 5 choppers will be used for bringing polling personnel back from the remote locations.

Electoral Literacy Awareness and  Chunav Pathshala were initiated in all 4,892 booths where polls were held in the first phase. General voter awareness and PwD voter awareness programmes were ensured by State Icons, through LED Van, Cinema hall, TV Channels etc.  Radio Jingles were broadcast through Akashvani etc, according to a PIB release. Extensive mapping was done to facilitate 49,007PwDs  caste their vote comfortably.

EVM/VVPAT awareness programme was done in all polling stations. Election related messages were circulated through Print Media, Electronic Media & Social Media viz Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Instagram etc. Voter mobilisation events like races, competitions, plays, women centric events, youth voter festival was done in every assembly constituencies. The Election Commission of India (ECI) had put in place an elaborate mechanism to curb the misuse of money power.

Seven  Expenditure Observers were deployed in 13 Assembly Constituencies in Phase-I and  82 Flying Squads and 94 Static Surveillance Teams were operationalised in these constituencies to check movement of cash, liquor, drugs, freebies and other items.

At booth No. 13 of 72-Lohardaga Assembly constituency, Middle school, Kauwadanr, there was report of IED blast at around 9.30 pm on November 29, 2019. There was a low intensity IED blast near a bridge connecting Ghagra village to Hapad village under Bishunpur PS in Gumla district.