The first phase of Jharkhand’s Assembly elections will take place on Wednesday, November 13, covering 43 seats and involving 685 candidates. This phase is expected to be a direct contest between the NDA and the INDIA alliance.
Polling will begin in key constituencies including Seraikella, Ranchi, Jamshedpur West, Jagannathpur, and Jamshedpur East. The highest number of candidates, 28, will contest in Jamshedpur West, while Jagannathpur will see the fewest candidates, with just eight nominations.
The election for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will be held in two phases, on November 13 and November 20, with the vote count scheduled for November 23.
In the lead-up to the first phase of voting, prominent leaders like PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah spearheaded the NDA’s campaign, holding rallies and roadshows. On the other hand, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and his wife, Kalpana, intensified their campaigning for the JMM and its allies, including the Congress. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge also made multiple visits to the state.
With a total of 2.6 crore voters, including 66.84 lakh aged 20 to 29 and 11.84 lakh first-time voters, the election is expected to be closely contested.
Key Constituencies to Watch in Phase 1:
– Seraikella: This constituency has been represented by Champai Soren, a six-time MLA, since 2005. Champai, who recently took over as the chief minister of Jharkhand after Hemant Soren’s arrest, is now contesting as the BJP candidate, replacing JMM’s Ganesh Mahli.
– Jamshedpur East: Congress is relying on Ajoy Kumar, a former IPS officer, to win this seat, which has been a Congress stronghold since 1985. Kumar faces BJP’s Purnima Das Sahu, who seeks to continue the legacy of her father-in-law, former CM Raghubar Das.
– Jagannathpur: BJP has fielded Geeta Kora, a former Congress MP, in this constituency. Kora, who switched to BJP in early 2024, aims to capitalize on her political experience after her defection from Congress.
– Jamshedpur West: This constituency sees a renewed rivalry between Congress’ Banna Gupta and Saryu Roy of JDU. Gupta, a prominent minister in the Congress government, faces off against Roy, known for defeating former CM Raghubar Das in 2014.
– Ranchi: Mahua Maji, a current Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), is challenging BJP’s CP Singh in Ranchi. Maji, who made history as the first woman from Jharkhand elected to the Rajya Sabha, has been an active participant in parliamentary debates.
As election day approaches, these constituencies will be key to watch as both alliances strive to gain crucial seats in the 81-member Assembly.