Ranchi, Dec 2 (ANI): Polling for the second phase of the five-phased Jharkhand assembly elections began amidst tight security on Wednesday morning.

A total of 259 candidates are in the fray with more than 6.5 million voters to cast votes between 7 am to 3 pm.

Sarfaraz Ahmad of Congress from Gandey, Raja Peter of Janata Dal (United) from Tamar, Sudesh Mahto of AJSU from Silli, Bandhu Tirkey of Jharkhand Janadikhar Manch from Mandar , Chandra Mohan Prasad of BJP from Giridih and Annapuna Devi of Rashtriya Janata Dal from Koderma are among the prominent candidates whose electoral fate would be decided today.

In this phase 14 of the remaining 55 constituencies will go to polls. Most of these constituencies are in the naxal infested areas.

According to sources, despite tight security, violence continues unabated in the state. Polls for 26 Assembly seats were held on November 25.

In third phase, seven seats will vote, while 14 and 15 constituencies respectively will vote in the fourth and the fifth phases.

Counting of votes will be held on December 23.

The Election Commission has decided to deploy Central Police Forces (CPF) and the State Armed Police (SAP) drawn from other states for the Jharkhand polls, as it is one of the States most prone to Naxal violence. (ANI)