Ranchi: A 48.56 per cent turn out has been registered till 1 PM in 15 seats in Jharkhand where polling is underway in the fourth round today. Elections are going on smoothly and peacefully, poll officials said.
Giridih, the second seat from where former Chief Minister and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) president Babulal Marandi is contesting, recorded 47.49 per cent polling, the officials said.
He also contested from Dhanwar, where polling was held in the third phase on Deecember 9.
The JVM is contesting in 14 seats. Around 39 per cent electorate cast their votes in Dhanbad from where Disaster Management Minister and Congress candidate Mannan Malik is seeking re-election.
Deogarh, where Toursim Minister and RJD leader Suresh Paswan is pitted against 12 candidates, recorded 51 per cent voting.
Minority Welfare Minister Haji Hussain Ansari is among 14 nominees from Madhupur, where 56 per cent polling was cast by 1 PM.
Two-time MLA of the CPI (ML-Liberation) Vinod Kumar Singh is locked in a contest among 14 candidates in Bagodar, where 57 per cent polling was noted.
Around 52.43 per cent polling was registered in Dumri where JMM's sitting MLA Jagannath Mahto is among a total 16 candidates, including BJP's Lalchand Mahto.
Polling in the other constituencies recorded are Jamua 44 per cent, Gandey 48.75 per cent, Bokaro 33 per cent, Chandankyari 57 per cent, Sindri 56 per cent, Nirsa 51 per cent, Jharia 45 per cent, Tundi 57 per cent and Baghmara 50 per cent.
BJP, which has a pre-poll alliance with the Ajsu party, is contesting in 13 seats this round, leaving two constituencies to its ally.
Congress is fighting in 11 seats, leaving four to RJD. Another of their pre-poll ally, JDU, is not contesting in this phase. The ruling JMM is contesting in all the 15 seats.
A total of 43,48,709 voters are eligible to decide the fate of 217 candidates, including 16 women, today. Polling to 50 of the 81 seats has already been held in the previous three phases.
