New Delhi: Jharkhand’s Assembly elections kicked off on Wednesday amid war cries echoing for tribal rights versus infiltrators and development versus corruption, registering a voter turnout of around 66.5 per cent across 43 out of 81 seats in the first phase. Alongside, voting also took place for byelections in 31 Assembly seats across 10 states and the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala from where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi is a candidate.
Leaders across the political spectrum urged people to vote in large numbers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Union home minister Amit Shah and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren urged people to come out in big numbers and exercise their franchise with full enthusiasm.
“Today is the first round of voting in the Jharkhand Assembly elections. I urge all voters to vote with full enthusiasm in this festival of democracy. On this occasion, my heartiest congratulations to all my young friends who are going to vote for the first time! Remember — ‘pehle matdan, phir jalpaan’!” Modi said in a post on X.
“Brothers and sisters of Jharkhand, today the first phase of voting is taking place in your state. I appeal to all the voters to cast your vote to protect your rights and strengthen the constitution and democracy. Your every vote for I.N.D.I.A. will bring prosperity in your life through 7 guarantees, will protect ‘jal-jungle-zameen’ (water, forest and land) and will strengthen social justice,” Gandhi said in a post on X.
While Soren said, “If you like our work, please support us. I promise that I will do 10 years of work in the next 5 years so that no one can stop our pace of progress”.
In this first phase, 683 candidates, including former chief minister Champai Soren and ex-MP Geeta Kora, are in the fray. Key battles include Champai Soren, who is contesting on a BJP ticket from Seraikela against JMM’s Ganesh Mahli, and Geeta Kora, wife of former CM Madhu Koda, is pitted against Congress’ Sona Ram Sinku in Jagannathpur.
Veteran Congress leader Rameshwar Oraon is facing AJSU’s Shanti Bhagat in Lohardaga, while JD(U)’s Saryu Roy challenges Congress’ Banna Gupta in Jamshedpur (West).
Despite threats from Naxals, voters came out in large numbers to vote. The Naxalites had put up posters and tried obstructing the way of voters but security forces successfully removed the posters and obstacles. By 11 am, 60 per cent voting turnout was recorded at polling booth number 25 in Sonapi, Jagannathpur AC, West Singhbhum, Jharkhand.
The polling in all elections remained largely peaceful though an incident was reported in Rajasthan’s Deoli-Uniara in Tonk where an independent candidate slapped an area magistrate. The incident occurred when independent candidate Naresh Meena, a Congress rebel, allegedly confronted sub-divisional officer Amit Chaudhary for making efforts for voting as the locals had boycotted polling in support of their demand. Bypolls took place for seven Assembly seats in Rajasthan on Wednesday.
In Bihar, byelections took place for Tarari, Imamganj, Belaganj and Ramgarh Assembly seats while in Assam it was held in five Assembly seats.
In West Bengal by-polls in six Assembly seats — Sitai, Madarihat, Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur and Taldangra Assembly constituencies — took place amid tight security arrangements.
Sporadic incidents of violence, including a shootout-cum-crude bomb attack in Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas district that killed a local TMC worker, marred the Bengal byelections, while the voter turnout across six constituencies stood at 69.29 per cent till 5 pm.
The killing of former TMC ward president Ashok Shaw, which took place adjacent to the Naihati Assembly constituency where the electorate exercised their franchise on Wednesday, sparked political accusations of voter intimidation during the ongoing bypolls, prompting the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office to seek a report on the incident.
In Chattisgarh, where a bypoll was held in Raipur City South, about 46.43 per cent was recorded till 5.
In Gujarat’s Vav bypoll 67.5 per cent polling took place, Meghalaya’s Gambegre saw 81 per cent polling. Bypoll in Karnataka’s three seats, and two seats in Madhya Pradesh were reported to be peaceful.
