Naxals blow bridge in Gumla as polling continues in Jharkhand

The first out of five phases will decide the fate of 189 candidates, including 15 women nominees.

In the first phase on Saturday, Chatra, Gumla, Bishunpur, Lohardaga, Manika, Latehar, Panki, Daltonganj, Bishrampur, Chhatarpur, Hussainabad, Garhwa and Bhawanathpur went to poll.

The remaining four phases of polling will be conducted on December 7, 12, 16 and 20, with vote counting on December 23.

In the first phase of polling, which will continue till 3 pm on Saturday, a total of 37,83,055 people are eligible to vote, including 18,01,356 women and five third-gender voters.

4,892 polling stations were established, including 1,262 with webcasting facilities, said Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer Vinay Kumar Choubey.

1,097 polling stations in Naxal-affected areas were marked 'hypersensitive' while 461 polling stations were marked 'sensitive'.

Notably, security had been tightened in the Latehar and Manika assembly constituencies, which had witnessed a Naxal attack a few days ago.

Choubey had earlier assured, "Adequate security has been ensured in all polling booths across the constituencies which will go to polls in the first phase."

"Special arrangements have been made for the specially-abled voters," he added.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and incumbent Chief Minister Raghubar Das is eyeing a second five-year term after becoming the first Jharkhand CM to complete a full term in office.

However, the BJP is up against an opposition alliance of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

The tenure of the current Assembly ends on January 5, 2020.