Jharkhand Polls: Voting underway in 17 constituencies; 61.19% polling recorded till 5 pm

19:48 December 12

Polling third phase ends in Jharkhand, 61.19% voter turnout till 5 pm

Ranchi: As voting ends for the third of the five-phased Assembly elections in Jharkhand, an estimated voter turnout of 61.19 per cent recorded till 5 pm on Thursday, according to the Election Commission of India(ECI)

A total of 309 candidates, including 32 women, are contesting from 17 Assembly seats. The constituencies, including two reserved for SC candidates and one ST candidate, in which voting is being held, is spread over eight districts in the state.

The fourth phase will be conducted on December 16, and the fifth and last phase on December 20.

The counting of votes will take place on December 23.
 

17:24 December 12

61.19% polling recorded till 5pm

The voter turnout in the third phase of polling in Jharkhand assembly elections till 5 pm was 61.19%. 

16:06 December 12

Newly-married couple turns up for voting in Bokaro

During the third phase of the Jharkhand Assembly election, a newly-married couple, dressed in their wedding outfits, turned up to cast their votes for Bermo Assembly constituency on Thursday.

The fourth phase will be conducted on December 16, and the fifth and last phase on December 20.

The counting of votes will take place on December 23.

15:45 December 12

MS Dhoni casts his vote 

MS Dhoni was spotted casting his vote at a polling station in Ranchi during the third of the five-phased Assembly elections in Jharkhand on Thursday. 

12:10 December 12

Khijari - 37.65%, Ranchi - 19.35%

The highest polling has been recorded in Khijari seat at 37.65 per cent and lowest at Ranchi with 19.35 per cent. The voting commenced at 7 a.m. amid tight security arrangements.

While the polling exercise on five seats - Ranchi, Hatia, Kanke, Ramgarh and Barkatha will continue from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., voters in the remaining constituencies can vote till 3 p.m.

There are a total of 309 candidates including 32 females whose fate will be decided by 56,06,743 voters including 26,73,991 females and 95 third gender. These 17 seats are spread across Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Chatra, Giridih, Bokaro, Koderma and Saraikela. More than 35,000 security personnel have been deployed for peaceful polling.

Jharkhand Governor Draupdi Murmu caste her vote at ATI Ranchi, AJSU president Sudesh Mahto caste his vote along with his wife at Silli. 

10:55 December 12

Modi, Shah urge Jharkhand to vote in large numbers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday urged the people of Jharkhand to vote in maximum number, as 17 constituencies went for voting under the third phase of the Assembly elections.

"The third phase of Jharkhand polls will take place today. Urging all those whose seats go to the polls today to vote in large numbers. I particularly urge my young friends to vote," Modi said.

In a tweet in Hindi, Shah appealed to all voters that they should vote in maximum numbers for the development, progress and peace of Jharkhand. Polling for 17 constituencies in the state began on Thursday, in the third phase of the Assembly elections.

Elections for 81 Assembly seats in Jharkhand will be held in five phases, beginning November 30, and the results will be announced on December 23.

10:21 December 12

Various leaders cast their votes

Former Union Minister and INC leader Subodh Kant Sahay, Mahua Maji of the JMM and Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth of the BJP cast their votes. 

Large queues were seen outside many polling stations as 13.05 per cent voting percentage was recorded till 9 am. The counting of votes for the five-phase election will be held on Dec 23. 

10:12 December 12

BJP MP Jayant Sinha casts his vote

Former Union Minister and BJP MP Jayant Sinha casts his vote at a polling booth in Hazaribagh. Polling is underway in 17 constituencies in the state for the third phase of elections.

06:51 December 12

Voting begins

The third of the five-phase elections of Jharkhand Assembly elections began on Thursday and will decide the fate of legislators in 17 seats out of the 81 assembly constituencies.

A total of 309 candidates, including 32 women, are contesting from 17 assembly seats. The constituencies, including two reserved for SC candidates and one ST candidate, going to vote on Thursday are spread over eight districts in the state.

The first phase of the election in the state took place on November 30 while the second round was held on December 7.

The fourth phase will be conducted on December 16, and the fifth and last phase on December 20.
 

06:34 December 12

Jharkhand Polls: Third phase polling ends, 61.19% voter turnout till 5 pm

Ranchi:About 40,000 polling personnel have been deputed to conduct smooth and peaceful voting in the third of the five-phase polling for seventeen assembly constituencies on Thursday, Jharkhand Chief Election Officer Vinay Kumar Choubey said on Wednesday.

He said security forces have also been deployed in the constituencies that will witness voting on December 12.

The fate of 309 candidates (including 32 women nominees) will be decided in the seventeen assembly constituencies going for polls on Thursday with 56,18,267 electorate (eligible to exercise their franchise), the CEO told a press conference here.

The electorate include a total of 26,80,205 women and 86 third gender voters.