Magnificent Jharkhand

Second phase of polling in Jharkhand begins

The second phase of polling for 14 of the 81 assembly seats in Jharkhand began Wednesday amid tight security.

Due to security reasons, the balloting began at 7 a.m., an hour ahead of the schedule in view of the threat from maoist-guerrillas who have called for an election boycott, accordingly the polling will end at 3 p.m.

In the second phase, there are 259 candidates in the fray.

Four helicopters of air force and Border Security Force have been pressed into service for heightened surveillance. Around 35,000 security personnel including para troopers have also been deployed.

The fate of six former ministers, including All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) president and former home minister Sudesh Mahto, will be decided in this round of polling. Another key candidate is Masi Charan Munda, 34, a jailed Maoist who is contesting from Khuti constituency on a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) ticket.

Voters queue up to cast ballot during second phase of Jharkhand Assembly Elections-2009

Former minister Kamlesh Singh remanded to judicial custody

Former Jharkhand minister Kamlesh Kumar Singh, who was arrested yesterday, was sent to 14-day judicial custody in connection with Disproportionate Assets (DA) case today.

Vigilance special court judge Vinay Kant Khan, however, allowed Singh to file his nomination papers from Husseinabad constituency in Palamu by today, the last date of filing papers.

Singh was booked by the vigilance department in July.

He was seeking re-election from Hussainabad as NCP nominee, where polling would be held on December 18.

He was also in-charge of food and supplies department in the Koda-led government.

Yesterday, former Chief Minister Madhu Koda was arrested and sent to jail in the DA case.