Marred by stray violence by naxalites, the second and final phase of Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand evoked between 45 and 50 per cent votingin the eight Lok Sabha seats and Jamtara assembly bypoll.
Prominent among the 164 candidates whose fate was sealed today were union minister Subodh Kant Sahay (Ranchi) and three former Chief Ministers Shibu Soren (Dumka), Madhu Koda (Singhbhum) and Arjun Munda (Jamshedpur). Soren was also among the 19 candidates for Jamtara assembly bypoll.
Voting in naxal-infested Giridih, Dhanbad, Jamshedpur, Ranchi and Singhbhum ended at 3 pm while it concluded at 4 pm in Dumka, Raj Mahal and Godda Lok Sabha constituencies.
The final count of the polling percentage could increase, according to election office sources here.
The day began with the naxalites lobbing a bomb on a vehicle, injuring an executive magistrate Rajendra Prasad and a constable on their way to poll duty near Dadi-Srirampur village in Giridih district, police said.
Security forces averted a blast when they discovered a twenty-kg bomb at Cheta Dabur in Giridih district.
CRPF jawans resisted the Maoists attempt to disrupt polling in Bansdera in East Singhbhum, 165 km from the Jharkhand capital, after a fierce hour-long gun-fight.
