Voting passed peacefully in 43 assembly constituencies of Jharkhand on Wednesday. In the most Naxal-affected areas of the state, voters exercised their franchise by reaching the polling booths. Or it can be said that the fear of Naxalites is not dominating the voters. As soon as the voting started, the voters came out of their homes with full enthusiasm and reached the polling booths and were seen queuing up to vote. In polling booth number 254 (Primary School Kolbanga) and 255 (Upgraded School Rabanga) of Manoharpur Assembly constituency of West Singhbhum, Naxalites put up posters and threatened the voters to boycott the vote. However, the security forces removed the posters. After this, expressing confidence in the security forces, the voters are fearlessly reaching the booths to vote. There are 7 polling booths in Kurumgarh of Gumla district, where voting took place for the first time after the formation of Jharkhand state. Due to being highly affected by insurgency, the voters were deprived of their franchise. But this time voters are exercising their franchise at all the polling booths. A different kind of enthusiasm is being seen among the voters for voting for the first time. Voters of Budha Pahad, which is considered to be the stronghold of Naxalites, are showing their faith in democracy. Where there was a time when people did not step out of their homes due to fear of Naxalites, today a large number of people are enthusiastically exercising their franchise. A voter turnout of 64.86 percent was recorded in the 43 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand where polling was held in the first phase on Wednesday, officials said.  Lohardaga district topped the list with 73.21 percent polling while Hazaribag district recorded the lowest at 59.13, officials said and added that polling continued till 5 pm.  The poll percentage in other districts were Seraikela--Kharsawan (72.19), Gumla (69.01), Simdega (68.66), Khunti (68.36), Garhwa (67.35), Latehar (67.16), West Singhbhum (66.87) , Ramgarh (66.32), East Singhbhum (64.87), Chatra (63.26), Palamu (62.62), Koderma (62), Ranchi (60.49) and Hazaribag (59.13).  Former CM Champai Soren and ex-MP Geeta Kora were among the 683 candidates in fray in the first phase. 

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