Did Jharkhand's Ghatshila Bypoll Witness a Record 73.88% Voter Turnout?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 73.88% voter turnout indicates high public participation.
- Polling conducted smoothly with no significant incidents reported.
- CCTV and security personnel ensured a transparent election process.
- 300 polling stations facilitated voting across 231 locations.
- Counting of votes set for November 14.
Ghatshila (Jharkhand), November 11 (NationPress) The by-election for Jharkhand’s Ghatshila Assembly seat wrapped up without any disturbances on Tuesday, achieving a remarkable 73.88 percent voter turnout by 5 p.m., as reported by the Election Commission.
Officials indicated that the final turnout may increase as data from remote regions is compiled.
Chief Electoral Officer K. Ravi Kumar stated that the polling proceeded without incident and was overseen via live webcasting from the Election Commission of India, the CEO's office, the District Election Officer, and the Returning Officer’s office.
To guarantee transparency and security, CCTV cameras were positioned inside and outside all 300 polling stations, he noted.
“All measures were taken to make certain that the by-election was conducted in a free, fair, and peaceful manner,” Kumar added, mentioning that paramilitary forces, police, and magistrates were stationed at every booth.
A total of 300 polling stations were established across 231 locations, with several designated as model booths featuring voter assistance services.
Voting commenced at 7 a.m., following a mock poll at 5:30 a.m., with all polling teams arriving at their respective locations before dawn. Long lines of voters—including women, youth, and first-time voters—were visible from early morning.
Senior citizens and differently-abled voters also engaged actively, arriving in wheelchairs and receiving help from election volunteers.
By 9 a.m., the voter turnout had already reached 17.33 percent, indicating a vigorous start to polling that maintained its momentum throughout the day.
No significant incidents or complaints were reported from anywhere within the constituency, according to officials.
The by-election was called due to the passing of the sitting JMM MLA Ramdas Soren earlier this year. The primary contest is between JMM’s Somesh Chandra Soren and BJP’s Babulal Soren, among a total of 13 candidates.
With polling now concluded, the fate of all 13 candidates rests within the EVMs. Vote counting is set to occur later this week on November 14, alongside the Bihar elections.