Jharkhand, December 09: The third phase of polling for eleven seats in Jharkhand registered about 50-55 per cent turnout even as suspected Maoists killed two BSF jawans.
The Maoists, who had given a call for a poll boycott, fired at a BSF patrol in Dumka district killing head constable Dharamvir Singh and constable Dinesh Sharma of the BSF’s 137 Battalion.
Altogether 239 candidates, including 115 Independents, and 16 women were in the fray including former Chief Minister Stephen Marandi of Congress and JMM chief-Shibu Soren’s son Hemant.
The fourth phase of polling is scheduled for 12th December while the fifth and final round will be on 18th December.
Counting will be on 23rd December.
Stray incidents were reported in Dumka and Giridih districts but the situation was immediately brought under control, police said.
Polling ended at 3 pm in Hazaribagh, Dhanwar, Bagodar, Jamua, Bermo, Bokaro, Chandankiari, Shikaripara, Dumka, Jama and Jarmundi constituencies.
Altogether 237 candidates, including 115 Independents, were in the fray.
Former Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi (Cong), ex-ministers Nalin Soren (JMM), Samresh Singh (JVM-P), JMM President Shibu Soren’s son Hemant Soren and daughter-in-law Sita Soren were among the prominent candidates whose fate was sealed in the EVMs.
The Congress and Babulal Marandi’s JVM-P have pre-poll alliance while the BJP/JDU and the RJD/LJP/Left parties are fighting the elections together.
The fourth phase is scheduled on 12th December and the fifth and final round will be held on 18th December.
Results will be announced on 23rd December.
—Agencies