Early voters throng Jharkhand polling booths

An electorate of over 61 lakh will decide the fate of 72 candidates.

Polling is taking place at 7,489 polling stations, of which 2,439 have been categorized as sensitive and 1,154 as highly sensitive.

In the third phase, 415 booths have been declared model polling stations. Also, 400 polling stations will be connected through webcasting, 1,015 through video and 1,954 will have still cameras, an official said.

Around 45,000 security personnel, including Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Jharkhand Jaguar, Indian Reserve Battalion, state police and home guards, have been deployed.

In the third phase, all eyes are on Dumka where former chief minister and president of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) Babulal Marandi and another former chief minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren are locked in a fight.