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Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Saraikela Assembly seat, Champai Soren on Wednesday highlighted the issue of infiltration in Jharkhand and said that they have to save the land of Sidho-Kanho and Santhal from Bangladeshi infiltrators.
The former chief minster of the state who switched to the BJP from the JMM cast his vote in the first phase of Assembly elections that began in the State early this morning. "We have to save the land of Sidho-Kanho and Santhal from Bangladeshi infiltrators...There is no doubt that BJP will form the government in Jharkhand...Some of the main issues before us are Bangladeshi infiltration, unemployment and irrigation," the former Jharkhand Chief Minister said. Champai Soren also praised the Gogo Didi Scheme and said, "It is very beneficial." Under the scheme, the BJP has promised Rs 21,00 per month to all women in Jharkhand. Meanwhile, Jharkhand recorded a voter turnout of 29.31 per cent as of 11 am, according to the data of the Election Commission of India. Voting is taking place in 43 out of the state's 81 seats in the first phase of polling. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for polling, which will continue until 5.00 pm. It will end at 4.00 pm at 950 sensitive booths spread across 31 constituencies. Over 200 companies of security forces have been deployed at strategic locations to maintain order and safeguard the electoral process. Key candidates in the first phase of Jharkhand's assembly elections include former Chief Minister Champai Soren (BJP) in Seraikela, and Ajoy Kumar (Congress) in Jamshedpur East, where he is facing Purnima Das Sahu, daughter-in-law of former Chief Minister Raghubar Das. In Jaganathpur, BJP's Geeta Koda, wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda, is contesting against Congress leader Sona Ram Sinku. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has nominated sitting Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji from Ranchi. The BJP-led NDA is aiming to unseat the JMM-led coalition, with key candidates such as former Chief Minister Champai Soren and Congress leader Ajoy Kumar in the fray. Elections on the remaining 38 seats will be conducted on November 20. The counting of the votes will take place on November 23. (ANI)
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