RANCHI: Over 30 per cent turnout was recorded in the first four hours of polling in 15 Assembly constituencies of Jharkhand where the penultimate round of the five-phase elections is going on peacefully.
Sindri registered the highest voter turnout of 40 per cent followed by Tundi (39%) and Chandankyari (37.18%), Election Commission said.
The lowest percentage was recorded at Jamua (23%) and Bokaro (24.53%).
The percentage recorded at Deogarh was 31.37 per cent, Giridih 27.76 per cent, Dhanbad 33.52 per cent, Madhupur 33 per cent, Bagodar 32 per cent, Gandey 27.34 per cent, Dumri 27.83 per cent, Nirsa 35 per cent, Jharia 30 per cent and Baghmara (34).
At Pirtand in Giridih Assembly constituency where Maoists posters asking the voters to boycott the polls had been removed, polling has picked up there.
In Giridih town which experienced a slight drizzle at around 10.30 AM, polling has not yet picked up, officials said.
A total of 43,48,709 voters are eligible to decide the fate of 217 candidates, including 16 women, today.
Former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi is among the 13 candidates in the fray from Giridih seat.
Three incumbent ministers Mannan Mallick (Congress, Dhanbad), Suresh Paswan (RJD, Deogarh) and Haji Hussain Ansari (JMM, Madhupur) are in the electoral race today besides 11 MLAs who are seeking re-election.
Polling will end at 3 PM in Madhupur, Deogarh (SC), Bagodar, Jamua (SC), Gandey, Giridih, Dumri, Chandankyari (SC), Sindri, Nirsa, Jharia, Tundi and Baghmara constituencies while it will continue upto 5 PM in Dhanbad and Bokaro constitutencies.
Polling to 50 of the 81 seats has already been held in the previous three phases, which passed off peacefully.
The fifth and final phase for 16 seats is scheduled on December 20 and counting is on December 23.
This is the third Assembly election in Jharkhand after it was carved out of Bihar in 2000.