RANCHI: Jharkhand saw a vibrant conclusion to its assembly elections Wednesday, with tribal women in bright saris singing and dancing on their way to polling booths. EC reported a turnout of nearly 68.5% across 38 constituencies at 5pm in the final phase, marking a marginal increase from 67% in these seats in 2019. Maheshpur (ST) in the minority-dominated Pakur district led with over 79%.
The first phase on Nov 13 across 43 constituencies recorded a turnout of nearly 67%. Votes for the 81-member assembly will be counted Nov 23.
Votes for the 81-member assembly will be counted on Nov 23.
While rural areas, including tribal stronghold of Santhal Pargana and coal belt of Dhanbad, saw heavy voter participation, urban centres like Bokaro recorded notably low turnouts. Bokaro had the lowest turnout at 52%, followed by Dhanbad (over 52%) and Jharia (55%). “We came to booth early and cast our votes,” said Rani Tudu, a voter from Gumma Pahari in Litipara (ST).
In Jharia, residents of places plagued by underground coal mine fires participated enthusiastically. Displaced voters from Kujama Panchayat walked 3km to their polling booths.
CM Hemant Soren of JMM said : “Spectacular! The festival of democracy in Jharkhand was magnificent. In both phases, the state’s people have expressed their aspirations through voting…”
Heavyweight contestants like BJP’s state president Babulal Marandi, AJSU party chief Sudesh Kumar Mahto, and opposition leader Amar Kumar Bauri visited temples before overseeing voting in their constituencies. CM Soren remained in Ranchi, while his wife Kalpana Murmu Soren campaigned in Gandey, where she is contesting on a JMM ticket. Marandi expressed optimism about the prospects of BJP’s return to office after five years. “The election result of Barhait, where the CM is contesting, will spring up a surprise and shock everyone,” he said.
According to officials, districts historically affected by Maoist insurgency saw no disturbances on voting day.
Tensions flared at Baghmara in Dhanbad, where BJP candidate Shatrughan Mahto’s supporters clashed with backers of independent Rohit Yadav for allegedly distributing voter slips bearing his photograph.
(With inputs from Abhijit Sen in Hazaribagh & MF Ahmed in Daltonganj)