Jharkhand Assembly election: Congress MLA brandishes gun near polling booth in Palamu

Jharkhand Congress MLA KN Tripathi was seen brandishing a gun near a polling booth after he was allegedly stopped by BJP candidate’s supporters from going to the booth in Palamu district  

Palamu (Jharkhand): A clash erupted between BJP candidate Alok Chorasia and supporters of Congress candidate KN Tripathi in Kosiyara village in Palamu district, Jharkhand, during the first phase of Assembly election on Saturday (November 30).

Tripathi was allegedly stopped by BJP candidate's supporters from going to polling booths, in Kosiyara village of Palamu after which a clash ensued.

Tripathi was seen brandishing a gun during the clash with the supporters of Chaurasia and Congress supporters.

Elsewhere in Jharkhand, a bridge in Gumla district's Bishnupur was blown up allegedly by Naxals while voting was underway for the first of the five-phase polling. Deputy Commissioner Shashi Ranjan, however, said that no one was injured and polling had not been affected.

The voting for phase one began in 13 Assembly constituencies out of the 81 in the state at 7am on Saturday. Election Commission officials said that the voters can exercise their franchise till 3pm. Voter turnout was recorded at 42% till 1 pm.

Key candidates in the fray are BJP nominee and state health minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi from Bishrampur and state Congress president Rameshwar Oraon from Lohardaga seat. Oraon is taking on former state Congress chief Sukhdeo Bhagat after the latter joined the BJP recently.