First phase of Jharkhand panchayat polls under way

RANCHI - Voters queued up at polling booths as the first phase of panchayat polls got under way in Jharkhand Saturday - the first such elections since the state was carved out from Bihar in 2000.

Polling began at 7 a.m. amid tight security and by 11 a.m., 15 to 20 percent votes were cast, officials said.

At a few places, supporters of candidates clashed while polling in two panchayats - Matuka and Doya - was postponed. At Matuka, two candidates were allocated the same symbol and in Doya out of 18 candidates, the names of only 10 figured on the ballot papers.

Jharkhand has deployed 426 companies of paratroopers and state police to ensure peaceful polling. Five helicopters are also being used for air surveillance.

In the first phase, polling is taking place in a total 1,348 panchayats of 77 blocks. As many as 51,433 candidates are in the fray and 4,327,944 people are eligible to vote.

The last panchayat polls were held in 1979 when Jharkhand was part of Bihar. The polls were delayed in Jharkhand due to a legal battle over reservation to tribal people in scheduled areas (notified tribal areas).