The first phase of assembly elections in Jharkhand began on Wednesday at 7 a.m., covering 43 of the state’s 81 constituencies.
By 11 a.m., voter turnout stood at 29.31 percent, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI). Khunti district recorded the highest voter turnout at 34.12 percent, while Ramgarh district recorded the lowest turnout at 24.17 percent.
Gumla had a turnout of 33.86 percent, Lohardaga 33.44 percent, Simdega 33.18 percent, Seraikella-Kharsawan 32.65 percent, Koderma 31.10 percent, Latehar 30.59 percent, and Garhwa 30.38 percent.
Former Chief Minister and BJP candidate from the Saraikela Assembly constituency, Champai Soren, urged all voters to exercise their right to vote.
This first phase will determine the fate of 683 candidates, including 73 women. The BJP-led NDA is aiming to unseat the JMM-led coalition, with key candidates such as former CM Soren and Congress leader Ajoy Kumar in the fray.
Soren is contesting from Seraikela, while Ajoy Kumar (Congress) is vying for a seat in Jamshedpur East, where he faces Purnima Das Sahu, daughter-in-law of former Chief Minister Raghubar Das. BJP’s Geeta Koda, wife of ex-Chief Minister Madhu Koda, is challenging Congress’s Sona Ram Sinku in Jaganathpur. JMM has fielded sitting Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji from Ranchi.