1st phase of rural polls in Jharkhand peaceful

A total of 72.08 per cent electorate today cast their votes in the first phase of the three-tier panchayat elections covering 1,243 panchayats in Jharkhand.

"A total 72.08 per cent polling was registered in the first of the four-phase panchayat elections," an official with the State Election Commission said here.

Congratulating the people for the peaceful completion of the first phase, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das said the huge mandate indicated that the people were for development.

Das said panchayats have an important role in strengthening democracy, an official release said quoting the CM.