17 per cent cast ballots till 1000 hrs in Koderma, BJP MLA arrested

Koderma/Giridih, Nov 6 (UNI) About 17 per cent of an estimated 13,50,000 electorate exercised its franchise till 1000 hrs today as polling in the Naxal-dominated Koderma Lok Sabha constituency began amids tight security and aerial surveillance bythe IAF.

Many voters complained that EVMs were not functioning properly.

Helicopters since yesterday had been keeping a vigil to check infiltration from bordering districts.

BJP MLA from Bermo Yogendra Prasad Batul was arrested at Chanwara for moving in his car without any valid pass, as movement of vehicles was restricted to polling officicials, security forces and journalists only..

Except for some group clashes between CPI(ML) and Jharkhand Vikash Morcha at some pockets, the polling was more or less peaceful so far.

Former Chief Minister and JVM president Babulal Marandi cast his vote at booth no 74 under Khoro and termed the polling as people's aspiration for a change in Jharkhand's politics.

A fierce contest among UPA, BJP, JVM and 11 other independent candidates is expected, psephologists said.

EVMs have been used in all 1618 polling booths comprising 453 hypersensitive and 554 sensitive ones.

Besides, 33 companies of the para-military forces, 13 of the Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) companies and thousands of state police peronnel and hundreds of officers have been pressed into service to ensure a smooth election.

Of the total six districts, Dhanwar and Bagodar are considered most insurgent-affected places in which 111 and 184 polling booths have been identified as hyper-sensitive respectively.

The bypoll is being termed a ''litmus test'' to determine the future of Jharkhand politics.

Of the total voters, 238,584 are in Koderma, 236,554 in Barkathha, 222709 in Dhanwar, 237,619 in Bagodar, 223,653 in Jamua while 189,972 are registered in Gandey.

UNI TEAM-PRS-PC PA DS1245