Ranchi, May 16 (IANS): Polling began on Monday for twin seats of Godda and Panki of the Jharkhand assembly.

Polling began at 7.00 a.m. and will end at 3.00 p.m.

In the first two hours, 17 percent polling was recorded in Panki and 14 percent in Godda.

According to police, 250 booths have been declared sensitive in Panki for which additional 1,700 security personnel have been deployed.

Similarly, 1,000 security personnel were also deployed in Godda as out of 250 booths 80 booths were declared sensitive.

In total, 15 candidates are in fray for Godda seat, prominent being Amit Mandal of the BJP, Sanjay Yadav of the RJD, Sanjiv Marik Yadav of the JMM.

Nine are in the race for Panki including Kushwaha Sashibhushan Mehta of the JMM, Devendra Kumar Singh of the Congress and Lal Suraj of the BJP.

The by-polls for the two seats were necessitated following the deaths of BJP MLA Raghunandan Mandal Godda and Bidesh Singh of the Congress from Panki.

The results will be declared on May 19.