East Singbhum (Jharkhand) [India], November 13 (ANI): After casting her vote from the Jamshedpur East Assembly seat, BJP candidate Purnima Das Sahu on Wednesday appealed to the public to exercise their franchise and vote in large numbers in order to strengthen Jharkhand. "I want today this to the people of the state to come out and cast their votes to strengthen Jharkhand. People should raise awareness in the society and encourage people to cast votes. We have prepared a lot but today is the day of the election. People have seen our work..." Sahu said. Jamshedpur East Assembly seat is a bastion for the BJP-led NDA, as former Chief Minister Raghubar Das was a four-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from this seat. Purnima Das Sahu is the daughter-in-law of Raghubar Das. She is facing opposition from Congress' Ajoy Kumar on this seat. Earlier today, Congress candidate Ajoy Kumar said that he has got immense support from the people and party workers of Jamshedpur. Speaking to ANI, Kumar thanked the voters and party workers in Jamshedpur."I have received immense love from the people of Jamshedpur. Good reports are coming from everywhere. I want to thank the voters and party workers of Jamshedpur. They have encouraged us.," he said."For 30 years, the empire of a family has been continuing here, against which we are fighting, and we will continue to fight that battle," the Congress candidate said.Meanwhile, the East Singhbhum district, as per the ECI, recorded the lowest voter turnout of 11.25 per cent among all districts, as of 9 am. A voter turnout of 13.04 per cent was recorded till 9 am in the first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly Elections, as per the Election Commission of India.Voting for the first phase of the Jharkhand assembly elections began on Wednesday at 7 am, with voting taking place in 43 out of the state's 81 seats.As per the data shared by the ECI, as of 9 am, Simdega district is leading with 15.09 per cent turnout, followed by Lohardaga and Koderma with 14.97 per cent.The voter turnout for Seraikella-Kharsawan is 14.62 per cent, Ramgarh and Khunti is 14.37 per cent, Gumla is 13.93 per cent, West Singhbum and Latehar is 13.80 per cent, Garhwa is 13.41 per cent, Hazaribagh is 13.20 per cent.According to the ECI, the state's capital city Ranchi recorded a turnout of 12.06 per cent, while the district of Palamu recorded 11.84 per cent. The BJP-led NDA is aiming to unseat the JMM-led coalition, with key candidates such as former Chief Minister Champai Soren and Congress leader Ajoy Kumar in the fray. The counting of the votes is scheduled for November 23. (ANI)