Lok Sabha Elections 2019:Jharkhand to poll in 4 phases, voting starts from April 29
Lok Sabha elections will be held in four phases in Jharkhand - April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19 . Over 2.19 crore electors would decide the fate of candidates in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies The Election Commission will use 100% VVPAT in Jharkhand.
Ranchi: Jharkhand is all set for a four-phase Lok Sabha elections for 14 constituencies beginning April 29, election officials said on Sunday. Out of the 14 seats, eight are reserved for general, five for scheduled tribe and one for scheduled caste.
As per the election schedule, the poll process in state will begin with the notification on April 2 for the Jharkhand’s first phase (fourth phase as per EC notification) and will be over on May 23 with the counting of votes and announcement of results. Voting for four-phase polls would be held on April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19 respectively.
In 2014, the elections were conducted in three phases that held on April 10, April 17 and April 24 respectively. Election officials said phases were decided as per the availability of security forces and their movements. Chief election commissioner Sunil Arora while addressing media persons in New Delhi said they wanted to conduct the election of left wing extremist (LWE) hit areas at one go.
Chatra, Palamu and Lohardaga will go to poll on April 29. Nomination for the polls will begin from April 2 and April 9 is the last date of filing the nominations and March 12 the last date of withdrawal.
Koderma, Ranchi, Khunti and Hazaribag will face the Lok Sabha battle on May 6. The notification will be done on April 10. Candidates can file nominations till April 18 and withdraw till April 22.
Polling for Giridih, Dhanbad, Jamshedpur and Singhbhum will take place on May 12 for which April 23 is the last date of filing nomination papers. April 26 is the last date of withdrawal. Rajmahal, Dumka and Godda will go to polls on May 19. The nomination for this phase will commence on April 22 and candidates could withdraw their names by May 2.
Briefing media persons, state chief electoral officer L Khiyangate said the total number of electorate of the state is 2,19,81,479 including 1,15,07,697 male and 1,04,73,475 female voters, as per the electoral roll, that includes 37,097 service voters and 307 trans-genders.
He said in all 29,464 polling stations were set up at 20,053 locations. “The polling percentage was at 63.84 in 2009 general election, we want to take it up this time,” he said.
Chief electoral officer said several new initiatives were being taken to ensure free and fair elections.
“Form 26 has been amended. Under which, now candidates with criminal backgrounds would have to inform voters by publishing their criminal records on at least three local news papers and electronic media,” Khiyangate said.
In a bid to maintain transparency, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is all prepared for 100% use of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand.
Jharkhand has acquired adequate EVMs and VVAPTs for the 2019 parliamentary polls. Availability of total ballot units (BU) in Jharkhand was 57, 496, which was 195% of the total requirement. Similarly, availability of control units was 41, 264, which was 140% of the total requirement and availability of VVPATs was 40,135, which was 136% of the total requirement, said Khiyangate.
The chief electoral office (CEO), Jharkhand, has also decided to track the movement of EVMs and VVPAT (voter verifiable paper audit trail) devices from the polling booths to the strong room through GPS system.
The android based C-Vigil (citizen vigilance) application would also be used this election to ensure free and fair polls. The C-Vigil app came into effect with the announcement of model code of conduct. For the use of the app, it is essential to have android based smart phones. In order to file a complaint, photo or video of the violation could be sent through the app.
A tollfree number 1950 is also working where voters could get all kinds of information regarding the elections. They could even check whether their names are in electoral rolls or not, besides getting information regarding polling booths and others.
