Voting for the first phase of the Jharkhand assembly elections began on Wednesday morning, with voting taking place in 43 out of the state’s 81 seats. Voting is also underway in the by-elections for 31 assembly seats across 10 states and Kerala’s Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency.
#WATCH | Ranchi: A woman plays a traditional drum and appeals to people to vote during the first phase of Jharkhand assembly elections.
(Visuals from polling booth numbers 50,60 and 61 in Ranchi) pic.twitter.com/bjE5uDHQVp
— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2024
The polling for Jharkhand’s first phase began around 7 am, with voters across 43 constituencies in 15 districts casting their ballots. The results will determine the fate of 683 candidates, including 73 women. Ahead of the polling, mock voting was conducted at various polling stations in Jharkhand.
In Jharkhand, the BJP-led NDA is looking to oust the JMM-led coalition, with key candidates like former Chief Minister Champai Soren and Congress leader Ajoy Kumar in the fray.Â
#WATCH | Kerala: People queue up at a polling station in Wayanad to vote for the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-polls pic.twitter.com/lBF0ykyJNn
— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2024
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is making her electoral debut from Wayanad, a seat previously won by her brother Rahul Gandhi. After winning both seats in Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year, Rahul decided to retain the family stronghold of Raebareli. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has also campaigned in Wayanad for his sister Priyanka.
Priyanka Gandhi is contesting against Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate Satyan Mokeri and the BJP’s Navya Haridas in the by-polls. The Chelakkara Assembly seat in Thrissur district will also go to the polls on Wednesday. Jharkhand will hold elections in two phases on November 13 and 20, with the first phase covering forty-three seats. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for polling, which will begin at 7 am and continue until 5 pm. Polling will end at 4 pm at 950 sensitive booths across 31 constituencies. Returning Officer for the Ranchi Assembly constituency, Utkarsh Kumar said the mock poll would begin at 5:30 am. “The mock poll will begin at 5.30 am, and polling will start after this. All basic facilities, including drinking water, toilets, and web-casting facilities, are available at all polling stations. All preparations are in place for polling. Security and CAPF deployed at polling stations. All rules and regulations laid down by the Election Commission are being followed,” he said.
Key candidates in the first phase include former Chief Minister and BJP candidate Champai Soren, who is contesting from Seraikella. In Jamshedpur East, Congress leader Ajoy Kumar is pitted against Purnima Das Sahu, daughter-in-law of former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Odisha Governor Raghubar Das. In Jamshedpur West, Congress leader Banna Gupta is up against JD(U) leader Saryu Roy, who had defeated Raghubar Das in the previous election. In Jaganathpur, BJP’s Geeta Koda, wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda, is contesting against Congress leader Sona Ram Sinku. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has fielded sitting Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji from Ranchi.Â
Polling in the remaining 38 constituencies of Jharkhand will be held on November 20, and votes will be counted on November 23. In the previous assembly elections, JMM won 30 seats, the BJP won 25, and Congress secured 16 seats. Over 200 security forces are deployed strategically to maintain order and safeguard the electoral process.Â
In the first phase, 683 contenders, including 73 women, compete for seats. The 33 by-polls seats include seven in Rajasthan, six in West Bengal, and five in Assam. The six assembly seats in West Bengal are Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, Taldangra, Sitai, and Madarihat.Â
In Assam, polling will be held for the Samaguri, Behali, Bongaigaon, Sidli, and Dholai seats. Voting for the assembly polls in Maharashtra, along with the remaining by-poll seats, will take place on November 20.
