Chatra. Jharkhand was separated from Bihar in the year 2000. It has been almost 24 years since this state was formed, since then 5 Lok Sabha elections and the same number of assembly elections have been held. This was the first time after the formation of the state that people of Chatra district were able to vote at their booth for the first time. Voters from five Maoist-affected villages of this district voted in large numbers at their booths on Monday for the first time.
Earlier, voters from Garia, Amkudar, Pathel, Baniyabandh and Sikid villages of Kanhachatti block had to go to polling stations in Kendua, Sahore or Jashpur to exercise their franchise and trek 10-11 km across rugged terrain. Had to walk till. The official said that their booth was shifted due to threat from Maoists.
However, this time the district administration set up three booths in Garia, Sikid and Pathel for the residents of five villages. Sikid booth was linked with Garia. Till 3 pm, more than 50 percent voting took place at all three booths. Kanhachatti Block Development Officer (BDO) Pramod Kumar said that voters of five villages have voted at their booth for the first time after the formation of Jharkhand. Kumar said, ‘Earlier the voting percentage was low here due to the call of Maoists to boycott the elections and the distance of the polling stations shifted from the area.’
It is noteworthy that voting took place for the first time in the first phase of Lok Sabha in Chandameta village of Chhattisgarh, which was once considered a stronghold of Naxalites. 325 registered voters, including 162 women, cast their votes for the first time to elect Lok Sabha candidates. Residents were assured of their safety after security personnel set up a camp in Chandametta. They came out of their homes to exercise their democratic rights without any fear.
Tags: Jharkhand lok sabha election 2024, Jharkhand news
FIRST PUBLISHED: May 20, 2024, 22:51 IST