New Delhi: Sita Soren, former Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader and BJP candidate from Jharkhand's Dumka Lok Sabha seat, on Saturday demanded re-polling in her constituency alleging irregularities in voting proces.

Dumka went to polls in the last phase of Lok Sabha polls on Saturday, June 1. Sita Soren, the sister-in-law of jailed former chief minister Hemant Soren, claimed that the voting process was being intentionally delayed.

"I have visited several booths in Dumka urban and found irregularities. I have informed the deputy commissioner in this regard. Inexperienced booth level officers (BLOs) have been deployed due to which electors are facing trouble," Sita Soren said, as quoted by PTI.

She alleged, "The delay is being done deliberately. I will write to Election Commission to cancel the voting here and conduct a re-poll." Sita raised the issue after receiving complaints from voters about delays at booth numbers 44 and 45.

EC Denies Sita's Allegations

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar denied her allegations and said polling is underway smoothly across three Lok Sabha constituencies — Dumka, Rajmahal and Godda. Kumar told PTI that if voting turnout till 11am is taken into consideration, Dumka registered 29.24 per cent, Godda 29.39 per cent and Rajmahal 30.04 per cent. "It means, average turnout is almost similar in all three constituencies," he added.

Six assembly constituencies fall under Dumka Lok Sabha seat. Of the six assembly segments, Jama recorded 30.12 per cent polling, Dumka 28.02 per cent, Jamtara 26.41 per cent, Nala 30.62 per cent, Sarath 30.31 per cent and Sikaripara 30.71 per cent polling till 11 am.

Sita Soren Jumps Ship Ahead of Polls

A three-time Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MLA, Sita Soren, left the JMM alleging that she was sidelined in the party. She said that she was being "neglected" in the JMM since the death of her husband, Durga Soren. Durga Soren, former CM and JMM founder Shibu Soren's elder son, passed away in 2009.

She, then joined the BJP, and was fielded from Dumka seat by the saffron party. INDI bloc has fielded Nalin Soren, a seven-term JMM MLA from Sikaripara assembly constituency, against Sita.

(With PTI inputs)