Abhitesh
With the deployment of polling officials and security personnel in their respective polling stations, the Maoist-affected Dumri assembly seat is all set for a by-election on Tuesday in which nearly three lakh voters will determine the electoral fate of six candidates.
Voting will commence at 7 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. at 373 polling stations, 200 of which are Maoist-affected.
According to a senior official, 1,640 polling personnel have been deployed for the exercise.
“All preparations for conducting the by-election in Dumri on Tuesday have been concluded. “Polling personnel and security forces have been deployed at all polling stations in the constituency,” Chief Electoral Officer of Jharkhand K Ravi Kumar told PTI.
Over 2.98 million eligible electors, including 1.44 million women, can participate in the by-election. The vote tally will take place on September 8.
In addition to the central forces, various branches of the Jharkhand Police have been deployed to ensure a free and peaceful election, according to a senior police officer.
Voting will take place at 373 polling stations housed in 240 structures spread across three blocks in two districts – Giridih and Bokaro.
Md Shahzad Parwez, Dumri Sub-divisional Magistrate and returning officer for the by-election, stated that around 200 of the 373 booths are Maoist-affected and that adequate security has been provided in those booths.
“Every exhibit will be monitored via webcasting. In the event of a medical emergency, an air ambulance will be available, according to Giridih Deputy Commissioner Naman Priyesh Lakra.
INDIA bloc candidate Bebi Devi is in a direct contest with NDA nominee Yashoda Devi in the Dumri byelection.
Dumri has become a prestige seat for both parties, with the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) claiming that the INDIA alliance will launch its victory campaign from this seat and the NDA expressing confidence that it will wrest the seat from the JMM.
The byelection was necessitated by the April passing of former education minister and JMM MLA Jagarnath Mahto. Mahto had occupied the position since 2004.
The JMM has nominated Bebi Devi, Mahto’s wife, for the INDIA alliance, while the AJSU Party has nominated Yashoda Devi for the NDA.
There are as many as six candidates, including three independents.
Md Abdul Mobin Rizvi represents the AIMIM. However, the AIMIM candidate is facing a FIR for allegedly shouting ‘pro-Pakistan’ slogans at the August 30 public rally of party chief Asaduddin Owaisi in Giridih.
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In the 2019 assembly elections, Jagarnath Mahto won by a margin of 34,288 ballots over Yashoda Devi of the AJSU Party. Rizvi ranked fourth with 24,132 votes for AIMIM.
The current composition of the 81-member Jharkhand House is as follows: JMM 29, Congress 17, and RJD 1. The BJP has 26 members, while the AJSU Party has three. In addition to two Independents, the NCP and CPI (ML) each have one lawmaker.
