Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), Nov 11 (PTI) Over 54 per cent of the 2.56 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 1 pm on Tuesday in the by-election to Ghatsila assembly seat in Jharkhand, which has turned into a prestige battle between the ruling JMM and the BJP, an official said.

While the JMM has put all its efforts into winning the bypoll and strengthening its credibility among the tribal masses, the opposition BJP is trying to discredit the government by wresting the seat.

JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said the people of Ghatsila have decided to pay tributes to 'Dishom Guru' Shibu Soren and former education minister Ramdas Soren, whose death necessitated the bypoll, by defeating the BJP.

Jharkhand BJP working president Aditya Sahu, on the other hand, said p

See Full Page