Daltonganj: Election Commission of India has approved the relocation of 180 polling stations in 11 districts of the state for the assembly elections. A total of 178 booths, located in 10 districts, are necessitated for the first phase (November 13) whereas only two booths, both in Dumka, are being relocated in the second phase (November 20).
The affected districts include Hazaribag, Chatra, East Singhbhum, Saraikela-Kharaswan, West Singhbhum, Khunti, Gumla, Lohardaga, Latehar, and Palamu in the first phase and Dumka in the second phase. The ECI issued its approval on Tuesday, with state chief electoral officer K Ravi Kumar sending the communication to district election officers on Wednesday.
West Singhbhum leads with 80 relocated booths, distributed across Chaibasa (5), Jaganathpur (19), Manoharpur (50), and Chakardharpur (6). Latehar follows with 44 relocations, split between Manika (32) and Latehar (12) assembly constituencies.
Gumla district ranks third with 26 relocated booths, comprising 20 in Bishunpur and six in Gumla assembly constituencies. Palamu has 12 relocated booths spread across Panki (4), Daltonganj (4), Chhaterpur (1), and Hussainabad (3) constituencies.
Seraikela-Kharsawan and East Singhbhum have minimal changes with one booth relocation each in their Kharsawan and Ghatshila constituencies respectively. Additionally, Dumka district, participating in the second phase, has two booth relocations in its Shikaripara constituency.
The ECI has instructed district election officers and deputy commissioners to ensure voters face no difficulties accessing the relocated booths. While the total relocations across both phases is 180, the focus remains on the 178 booths relocated in phase one.