61 percent polling in Mandu assembly bypoll

Ranchi, Nov 30: The bypoll for Mandu assembly seat in Jharkhand was today passed off peacefully, registering 61 per cent polling.

"The polling passed off peacefully," Hazaribagh Deputy Commissioner Manish Ranjan told PTI. The polling, which began at 7 am ended at 3 pm, held amidst helicopter surveillance and tight security with 32 companies of security personnel overseeing free and fair polling. Women voters outnumbered men in most of the booths, according to official sources.

The counting would be held on December 4 to know the fate of 22 candidates, including two women, who contested the bypoll. Prominent among them were Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s Jaiprakash Bhai Patel, Congress’ Kumar Mahesh Singh, CPI (ML-Liberation’s) Chandranath Bhai Patel and Manish Jaiswal of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantric).

Janata Dal (U) state unit president Khiru Mahto also contested as an Independent as he could not get party symbol on time. The bypoll was necessitated following the demise of JMM MLA Teklal Mahto.

PTI