Ranchi: The second phase of Jharkhand elections began this morning for 14 seats. These seats are mostly situated in Naxal-hit areas and Maoists have announced to boycott the poll.

Altogether 30,96,854 people are eligible to vote in Kodarma, Barhi, Mandu, Ramgarh, Gandey, Giridih, Dumri, Gomia, Tamar, Silli, Khijri, Mandar, Khunti and Pakur. Except Pakur, all other seats have Maoist presence.

Inspector General of Police V H Deshmukh said, adequate security arrangements that includes air surveillance have been made for peaceful polling.

Former ministers Bandhu Tirkey (Independent, Mandar), Chandraprakash Choudhary (Ajsu Party, Ramgarh) and Sudesh Mahato (Ajsu Party, Silli) are prominent among the 259 candidates whose electoral fate would be decided in this phase.