Jharkhand Election 2024 Phase 1 Live updates: 59.28% voter turnout till 3 pm, Ranchi records lowest at 53%

Jharkhand Election 2024 Phase 1 Live updates: Voting is being held in 43 seats the first phase of Jharkhand Assembly elections today, November 13. The 43 assembly constituencies are spread across 15 districts of the state. The second phase of election for 38 seats is scheduled for November 20. The results will be declared on November 23.

The 43 seats of Jharkhand recorded 46.25 per cent voter turnout till 1 pm, Election Commission of India said. Whereas, Wayanad Lok Sabha and the Chelakkara assembly constituencies in Kerala as they witnessed a turnout of 34.38 and 36.08 per cent, respectively, after the first five hours of voting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their franchise. “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,” Modi said in a post on X.

Today's voting will decide the fate of 683 candidates. The prominent candidates in the first phase include former Chief Minister Champai Soren who is contesting for the first time as a BJP candidate (Saraikela). Odisha governor and former CM Raghubar Das' daughter-in-law Purnima Das Sahu (Jamshedpur East) and Saryu Roy is contesting as Janata Dal -(United) candidate (Jamshedpur West) seat in the polling today

The seats voting today include 17 general seats, 20 reserved for Scheduled Tribes, and six for Scheduled Castes.

Voting began at 7 AM at 15,344 polling stations. It will continue till 5 pm.

The contest in Jharkhand is between the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led INDIA bloc and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

In the 2019 Assembly Elections, JMM emerged as the largest party with 30 seats, while the BJP bagged 25 seats. The Congress won 16 seats, the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) got three seats, while All Jharkhand Students Union won 2 seats.

The JMM formed a government with the support of Congress and RJD. The alliance – part of INDIA bloc – is contesting the 2024 assembly election again with Hemant Soren-led JMM contesting 43 of the 81 seats in the assembly. The Congress has fielded candidates in 30 seats. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is contesting six seats while the Left parties are contesting three seats.

In the NDA bloc, the Bharatiya Janata Party is contesting on 68 seats, while its alliance partner All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) has fielded candidate on 10 seats. The Janata Dal (United) is contesting 2 seats and the Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is contesting from 1 seat in Jharkhand polls.

Wayanad Bypoll

Voting is also being held for Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll where Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is making her debut. Vadra is seeking retain the party's stronghold that her brother, Rahul Gandhi, won in the past two Lok Sabha elections. Rahul vacated Wayanad and retained Raebareli after he won both the seats in Lok Sabha election 2024.

Wayanad recorded 27 per cent voter turnout till 11 am.

Priyanka Gandhi urged people to vote. "My dearest sisters and brothers. Please vote today, it’s your day, a day for you to make your choice and exercise the greatest power our constitution has given you. Let’s build a better future together!," she said in a post on X.

Bypolls are also being geld across 33 assembly seats across 11 state today. The 33 bypolls 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. In Assam, polling will be held in Samaguri, Behali, Bongaigaon, Sidli and Dholai seats.

Jharkhand Election 2024 Phase 1 Live updates: 59.28% voter turnout till 3 pm, Ranchi records lowest at 53%

Jharkhand Election 2024 Phase 1 Live updates: The voter turnout till 3 pm was recorded at 59.28%. Voters across 43 assembly seats in 15 districts are casting their ballots in the first phase today.