Jharkhand Assembly Polls: Voting For 16 Seats In Fifth And Final Phase Today

The voting for 16 assembly constituencies in the fifth and final phase of assembly election in Jharkhand will be held on December 20. The fate of former chief minister Hemant Soren and two Jharkhand ministers will be decided in this phase. Voting in Rajmahal, Boiro (ST), Barhait (ST), Litipara (ST), Pakur, Maheshpur (ST), Sikaripara (ST), Dumka (ST), Jama (ST), Jarmundi, Nala, Jamtara, Sarath, Poreyahat, Godda and Mahagama seats will be held on Friday. Over 40,000 security personnel have been deployed in the these assembly constituencies spread over six districts to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling, Election Commission officials said.

The voting will begin at 7 am and end at 3 pm on Friday in Borio, Barhait, Litipara, Maheshpur and Sikaripara seats while voters in the rest of the constituencies can exercise their franchise between 7 am and 5 pm, the officials said.

Jharkhand Mukti Morch (JMM) working president Hemant Soren, who is contesting in two seats, is facing a tough fight from Woman and Child Welfare Minister Louis Marandi from Dumka and Simon Malto of BJP from Barhait. State Agriculture Minister Randhir Singh of BJP is contesting from Sarath. Sitting MLA Sita Soren, daughter-in-law of the JMM president Shibu Soren, is contesting from Jama seat while former deputy chief minister and sitting JMM MLA Stephen Marandi is seeking re-election from Maheshpur.

The ruling BJP has fielded sitting MLAs Ashok Kumar Bhagat, Anant Ojha and Amit Mandal from Mahagama, Rajmahal and Godda assembly constituencies respectively while the party nominated former minister Satyanand Jha from Nalla.

Out of 81 assembly seats, elections were completed in 65 constituencies in the four phases between November 30 and December 16. Counting of votes is scheduled on December 23.