KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, May 13: Polling was underway in the Singhbhum Lok Sabha seat, leading a moderate number of voters turned out to use their franchise in the fourth phase of elections here on Monday.
Long ques of voters were seen waiting for their turn to cast their votes in the Singhbhum Lok Sabha seat which is a reserved constituency where the main contest is between NDA candidate Geeta Koda and INDI Alliance candidate Joba Majhi.
The polling began at 7.00 am and over 12.7 per cent of polling had been through across the Singhbhum Lok Sabha seat by 9.00 am, with the maximum percentage of polling (13.37) happening in the Chaibasa assembly segment of the Lok Sabha constituency.
Until 3 pm, Singhbhum recorded a voter turnout of 57.62 per cent whereas 59.97 per cent voting was recorded in Khunti, 53.35% in Palamu and 56.72% percent in Lohardaga.
CM Champai Soren appeals people to cast votes
Chief minister, Champai Soren cast his vote at the Jhilingora Utkramit Madhya Vidyalay polling booth in the Seraikela assembly segment near Jamshedpur around 9 am.
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Soren, who was accompanied with his wife, two sons and as many daughters-in-law, called upon the people of to come out of their houses for the polling.
“This is the great democratic festival. All should participate in the grand festival by casting one’s esteemed vote,” observed the chief minister while responding to the queries by the media.
Opponents Geeta Koda and Joba Majhi cast their votes
The NDA candidate, Geeta Koda cast her vote at the polling booth in Patahatu village in Jagannathpur block in West Singhbhum at around 9.30 am. Former chief minister, Madhu Koda had accompanied her to the polling booth where a long queue of voters was getting longer.
The INDI Alliance candidate, Joba Majhi cast her vote at a polling booth in Chakradharpur early around 7.15 am.
Peaceful polling in Naxal areas
In urban areas, including in Chaibasa in West Singhbhum and in Adityapur-Gamharia in Seraikela, the polling for the Singhbhum Lok Sabha seat was in progress with enthusiasm among the voters.
“We do never evade to use our franchise during any election; be it parliamentary election or assembly election or a municipal election. Each and every member of our extended family devote the required time for the voting as every vote counts ultimately for setting up a strong and reliable government,” observed Ram Gyani Sahi, a resident of Road No 32 in Adityapur-2 while talking to The Jharkhand Story.
Significantly, the polling in the Saranda area and also the Goelkera-Sonua area where some pockets exist with a waning Naxal influence was peaceful as police and paramilitary forces were on the maximum alert.
