Jharkhand Assembly polls phase 1: Over 64% voter turnout till 5 pm

Ranchi: In the first phase of the Jharkhand assembly elections held on Wednesday, officials reported that a voter turnout of 64.86% was recorded across 43 constituencies. Lohardaga district topped with 73.21% turnout, while Hazaribag saw the lowest at 59.13%. Polling in all districts continued until 5 pm, reported PTI.

Among the districts, Seraikela-Kharsawan recorded a 72.19% turnout, followed by Gumla (69.01%), Simdega (68.66%), Khunti (68.36%), and Garhwa (67.35%). Other notable turnouts included Latehar (67.16%), West Singhbhum (66.87%), Ramgarh (66.32%), East Singhbhum (64.87%), Chatra (63.26%), Palamu (62.62%), Koderma (62%), Ranchi (60.49%), and Hazaribag (59.13%).

The phase saw 683 candidates in the fray, including notable figures like former Chief Minister Champai Soren and former MP Geeta Kora. A total of 1.37 crore voters were eligible to cast their votes, with 15,344 polling stations set up, including 1,152 staffed entirely by women and 24 manned by specially-abled personnel, as per Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar.

On the same day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to vote with enthusiasm, congratulating first-time voters through an X post. Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar cast his vote in Ranchi and also encouraged voters to participate in the electoral process. Chief Minister Hemant Soren took to social media to appeal for support, promising accelerated progress if re-elected.

Both the JMM-led coalition and the BJP made significant appeals to voters. The JMM alliance highlighted welfare schemes, such as the Maiyan Samman Yojna, while accusing the BJP-led central government of misusing agencies against opposition leaders. The BJP, on the other hand, campaigned on themes of Hindutva, national security, and corruption allegations against the current state administration.

During the day, prominent leaders, including PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and BJP chief J P Nadda, held rallies attacking the JMM government. INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress's Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Chief Minister Soren, emphasised welfare schemes and tribal representation in their speeches.

Key candidates in this phase include Champai Soren, who is running on a BJP ticket in Seraikela against JMM's Ganesh Mahli; Geeta Kora, contesting against Congress's Sona Ram Sinku in Jagannathpur; veteran Congress leader Rameshwar Oraon, facing AJSU's Shanti Bhagat in Lohardaga; and JD(U)’s Saryu Roy up against Congress’s Banna Gupta in Jamshedpur West.

Authorities seized illegal cash and items worth Rs 208.78 crore as part of the Model Code of Conduct enforcement, with 58 violations registered, including 29 cases in the Garhwa district.

With Phase 2 of voting scheduled for November 20 and counting on November 23, both the NDA and INDIA bloc are pushing hard to secure victory. In the previous 2019 assembly elections, the JMM-led coalition had won a majority with 47 seats. The current assembly stands at 74 seats, with JMM holding 26 seats, Congress 17, and RJD 1.