This Article is From Nov 26, 2014

Jharkhand Records 62 Per Cent Voter Turnout in First Phase of Elections

Jharkhand Records 62 Per Cent Voter Turnout in First Phase of Elections

Voters wait to cast their votes during the first phase of Jharkhand assembly election, in Latehar on Tuesday. (PTI photo)

Ranchi/Srinagar: In the first phase of Assembly elections in Jharkhand on Tuesday, a high turnout of nearly 62 percent was recorded in the 13 Naxal-affected constituencies. Jharkhand has a 81-member state assembly.

Officials said that polling in the Maoist-hit state passed off by and large peacefully.

The percentage (of votes) could be updated later, an official with the Election Commission said in Ranchi.

The constituencies which went to the polls in Jharkhand are Chatra(SC), Gumla (ST), Bishunpur (ST), Lohardaga (ST), Manika (ST), Latehar (SC), Panki and Daltonganj, Bishrampur, Chhatarpur (SC), Hussainabad, Garhwa and Bhawanathpur.

Polling was also conducted across 15 constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir where people ignored cold weather conditions and  boycott calls by separatists to cast their votes.

A record 71.28 per cent turnout was recorded in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Polling has gone off absolutely peaceful without any incident. It was 100 per cent flawless polls and there was not a single incident which vitiates poll process," Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi told reporters in Delhi.

In five Kashmir Valley constituencies, two in Ganderbal district recorded 68 per cent turnout -- an increase of 13 per cent from 2008 assembly polls -- while three in Bandipora district recorded 70.30 per cent, registering an increase of 11 per cent.

Sonawari consituency in the Kashmir Valley recorded a turnout as high as 80.10 percent.

While there was increase of eight per cent in Doda district and nearly four per cent in Ramban district, Kishtwar district recorded a drop of over three per cent.

The four constituencies of Ladakh region, which normally witnesses high voter turnout, marked a decrease in number of voters exercising their franchise.

In two constituencies of Leh district, the turn out was 57 per cent, down from 61.88 per cent in 2008 assembly polls and substantially down from 68.23 per cent registered during the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year. In Kargil district, 59 per cent voters cast their votes against 72.90 per cent in 2008 elections.

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