INDIA vs NDA: 43 Jharkhand Seats at Stake as First Phase of Voting Begins
In Short
- Jharkhand polls began in 43 seats with 29.31% voter turnout by 11 am
- 15,344 polling stations set up; over 200 security companies deployed
- Notable candidates include Champai Soren, Geeta Koda, Mahua Maji
The first phase of Jharkhand Assembly elections is underway in 43 constituencies out of the state’s 81 seats.
Across 43 constituencies, 683 candidates are in the fray for legislative seats.
In this phase, 683 candidates, including 73 women, are competing for seats.
The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), a member of the opposition’s INDIA bloc, will face off against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
In the 2019 Jharkhand Assembly election, Hemant Soren-led JMM won 30 seats, the BJP won 25 and Congress won 16 seats. A coalition of the JMM, Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal formed the governmen, with Soren assuming the role of Chief Minister.
Key politicians whose fates will be decided in the first phase of Jharkhand polls include former Chief Minister Champai Soren, Health Minister Banna Gupta, Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji, Geeta Koda (wife of ex-Chief Minister Madhu Koda), and Purnima Das, daughter-in-law of former Chief Minister Raghubar Das.
- Former CM and BJP candidate Champai Soren is contesting the Seraikella seat, which he has held since 2005. After Hemant Soren’s arrest in January 2024, Champai assumed the Chief Minister’s role. He is now facing JMM’s Ganesh Mahli
- BJP’s Geeta Koda, wife of former CM Madhu Koda, is contesting against Congress leader Sona Ram Sinku in Jagannathpur
- For the Ranchi seat, JMM’s Mahua Maji, a Rajya Sabha MP, is challenging BJP’s CP Singh.
JHARKHAND ELECTIONS: POLLING DATE & TIME
Polling across 43 constituencies will start at 7 am with 15,344 polling stations set up across the state. Of these, 12,716 stations are in rural areas and 2,628 in urban centers. Voting will generally conclude by 5 pm, except at 950 locations where polling will end at 4 pm. However, voters already in line at closing time will still be permitted to vote.
The poll body has announced that 1,152 polling stations will have exclusively female staff, and 24 stations will be staffed by disabled personnel. Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar told reporters that since the Model Code of Conduct took effect, authorities have seized illegal goods and cash totaling Rs 179.14 crore and registered 54 cases of alleged violations.
