Ignoring a Maoist poll boycott call, people turned up in large numbers to vote in the key Jharkhand assembly by-election in Tamar from where Chief Minister Shibu Soren is seeking entry to the state legislature. Around 58 percent polling was recorded, election officials said.

Voting began at 7 a.m. amid tight security. Around 70 companies of security forces, including 28 companies of paramilitary forces, were deployed in the region.