Ranchi, February 23 Around 51 per cent of the approximately 43 lakh voters exercised their franchise by 3 pm in the civic polls to 48 urban local bodies in Jharkhand on Monday, an election official said.
Voting, which commenced at 7 am, is underway under tight security.
"A voter turnout of 50.61 per cent was recorded by 3 pm. The polling is peaceful," State Election Commission (SEC) secretary Radhe Shyam Prasad said.
Seraikela Nagar Panchayat recorded the highest turnout of 63.20 per cent, while Ranchi Municipal Corporation registered the lowest at 34.16 per cent, followed by Dhanbad Municipal Corporation at 36.60 per cent.
Over 43 lakh voters are eligible to decide the fate of over 6,000 candidates.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife, Kalpana Soren, an MLA from Gandey assembly constituency, exercised their franchise at a booth in St Paul Kuldeep High School in Ranchi's Harmu area.
"The civic poll is part of our democratic system where we elect our local representative. We have exercised our franchise and appeal to the people to use their right to vote," Soren told reporters after casting his vote.
Union Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, exercised his franchise at a booth in Kaju Bagan area of Ranchi.
State Election Commissioner (SEC) Alka Tiwari exercised her franchise at ward number 40 in Ranchi and said polling is underway peacefully across the state.
Long queues of voters, especially women, were seen at most polling stations. However, in two major municipal corporation areas -- Ranchi and Dhanbad -- fewer electors had turned up to cast their votes.
Chaos and minor clashes were reported from parts of the state.
Supporters of two candidates clashed at a booth in Town police station area of Giridih district, which was brought under control by the police. A similar incident was reported at booth 32 in Chas Municipal Corporation area in Bokaro district.
In Ranchi, voters in several areas alleged chaos in their respective booths. A voter, Rajesh Sinha, said he could not exercise his franchise, as his name was missing in the list.
"My booth was at Kairali School, Dhurwa. I was given a slip mentioning my name and room number outside the booth. As I entered the booth, the poll officials did not find my name in the actual voter list, while it was available on the election commission’s site. I was not allowed to vote, and I had to return," Sinha told
