Christian leaders have joined other minorities in Jharkhand to appeal people to exercise their franchise, and do it wisely to help secular parties win the state elections that began today.

In the first phase of the assembly election on Nov. 25 the state recorded an average of 54 percent voting. Polling was largely peaceful as no untoward incident occurred, media said quoting officials.

The All Churches Committee held a prayer meeting in Ranchi for peaceful polling Nov. 24. The meeting urged Christians to cast their votes and exercise their wisdom in doing so.

Earlier on Nov. 20 some Muslim clerics also asked their people to support secular forces in the elections.

The Church prayer meeting was attended by representatives of all major churches in Jharkhand including Catholics and Protestants.

“The church representatives will take the message forward to the common electorate. We believe that power in democracy comes from ballot and not bullets. So everyone must exercise their franchise,” said Father Jospeh Pinto, rector of St Albert College.

He admitted Christians are urged to vote for political parties that respect all minorities and their contribution to the society. “Minorities are part and parcel of India and Christian votes should go to the party that acknowledges this fact,” he added.

In the first phase, elections were held in 26 of the state’s 81 assembly constituencies amid tight security. Due to security reasons, the poll timings were advanced and took place between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Some 470 candidates, including 194 independents, were in the fray.

About 40,000 security personnel were deployed and four helicopters were pressed into service to ensure peaceful polling. Officials said voting started late in at least 13 places due to technical problems in the electronic voting machines (EVMs).

The elections get over Dec 18 and the counting of votes will be held Dec 23.

Source:  Elect secularism in Jharkhand: Church (Cathnewsindia.com)

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