Polling underway for final phase of Jharkhand assembly elections

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Polling is underway for the fifth and final phase of Assembly elections in Jharkhand. Voting is taking place for 16 constituencies spread over Sahebganj, Pakur, Dumka, Jamtara, Deoghar and Godda districts of Santhal Pargana region in this phase.

Polling in five naxal infested assembly segments of Borio, Barhait, Litipara, Maheshpur and Sikaripara will be held between 7 AM and 3 PM. In the remaining 11 seats, voting will continue till 5 PM. 236 candidates including 29 women are in the fray for this phase.

Prominent among them are Jharkhand Ministers – Louis Marandi and Randhir Singh, JMM leader Hemant Soren, Congress leader Alamgir Alam and Pradeep Yadav of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged people to exercise their franchise in the final phase Jharkhand elections. In a tweet, Mr Modi asked people to participate in this festival of democracy and vote in record numbers.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made for free, fair and peaceful polling. Jawans of central para military forces have been deployed at all booths. Over 41 thousand armed security personnel of state government have also been deployed. Helicopters have been pressed into service for air patrolling.

Borders with Bihar and West Bengal have been sealed to check infiltration of anti-social elements. Chief Electoral Officer Vinay Kumar Choubey said, 1,347 polling booths are being monitored online out of a total of over 5,300.