Voting for Jharkhand's assembly polls begin

The five-phase assembly poll for the total 81 seats in Jharkhand have begun today. In the first phase, there are 470 candidates contesting in 26 assembly constituencies. (NDTV Photo)

More than 8,000 polling booths have been set up for the convenience of nearly 65 lakh voters.

Preparations for the first phase of assembly polls have been completed. "Adequate security arrangements have been made and police personnel deployed to ensure a free and fair poll," said Joint chief electoral officer A K Sinha. (NDTV Photo)

According to police sources, 25,000 central paramilitary forces personnel have been deployed to prevent any unwanted incident.

The help of helicopters is being taken to keep a quick check on tough terrain. Several helipads have also been constructed for transportation of security personnel in cases of emergency. (NDTV Photo)

The opening and closing time for the polling has been advanced in view of the Naxal threats.Former legislators Suraj Mandal (JMM), Furkan Ansari (Congress), Hemlal Murmu, ex-Speaker Alamgir Alam (Congress), ex-minister Raghuvar Das (BJP), Saryu Roy (BJP) and ex-minister Pradeep Yadav (JVM-P) are among the prominent candidates whose electoral fate would be decided today. (NDTV Photo)

30 constituencies of Jharkhand are voting today as a part of these five-phase assembly polls. The counting will be held on December 23. (NDTV Photo)