According to ECI data, Mahespur recorded the highest voter turnout at 79.40%, followed by Nala with 78.75%.
NEW DELHI: The second and final phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections concluded with a voter turnout of 67.59% as of 5 PM, according to the Election Commission of India. A total of 532 candidates contested across 38 Assembly constituencies, including prominent figures. Chief Minister Hemant Soren faced BJP’s Gamaliel Hembrom in Barhait, while AJSUP chief Sudesh Mahto challenged former JMM MLA Amit Mahto in Silli. In Gandey, the CM’s wife, Kalpana Soren competed against BJP’s Muniya Devi. In Jamtara, Shibu Soren’s daughter-in-law, BJP candidate Sita Soren, contested against Congress’s sitting MLA Irfan Ansari, and Babulal Marandi was in the fray in Dhanwar. The election results, along with those of Maharashtra, will be declared on November 23.
According to ECI data, Mahespur recorded the highest voter turnout at 79.40%, followed by Nala with 78.75% and Sarath with 77.94%. Bokaro registered the lowest turnout at 50.52%, while Dhanbad followed with 52.31%.
Chief Minister and JMM candidate Hemant Soren is contesting from Barhait, which recorded a voter turnout of 66.13%. In Dhanwar, BJP state president Babulal Marandi saw a turnout of 60.87%. Meanwhile, Jamtara, from where Shibu Soren’s daughter-in-law Sita Soren is contesting, registered a 74.21% voter turnout, and Silli, where AJSU president Sudesh Mahto is in the fray, witnessed a turnout of 76.70%.
Amar Kumar Bauri, Leader of the Opposition and BJP candidate from Chandankyari, expressed optimism about his party’s chances of forming the next government as he seeks to retain his seat. He stated, “As the second phase of voting progresses, I pray for the protection of the rights of natives and tribals. I believe the people will vote for their future, and with their support, the BJP will form the government.”
On the other hand, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s wife, Kalpana Soren, the JMM candidate from the Gandey Assembly seat, expressed confidence in the Mahagathbandhan’s victory in the Assembly elections. She stated that the people of Jharkhand would support Hemant Soren and the alliance. Speaking to the media, she said, “I am confident of my victory as I have worked tirelessly for the people of Gandey. Over the next five years, I aim to continue this work. The people of the state will vote for Hemant Soren and our Mahagathbandhan.”
Moreover, sitting MLA and Congress candidate from Jamtara, Irfan Ansari, urged people to cast their votes. He declared, “We will win all seats in Santhal Pargana by a significant margin. The BJP is finished. You (BJP) raised issues like infiltration and Bangladeshis. Leaders from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam talk about these issues, but here, people speak Bengali—that does not make them Bangladeshis. Adivasis, Muslims, and Dalits also speak Bengali. Does that make them Bangladeshis? By disrespecting the Bengali community, the BJP has been rejected. Jharkhand does not even share a border with Bangladesh.”
Meanwhile, Jharkhand BJP MP Nishikant Dubey lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging that a presiding officer in Madhupur, Deoghar district, was favouring JMM candidate Hafizul Hassan. Following the complaint, the officer was arrested. However, the Deoghar administration clarified that the officer was removed for being positioned too close to the voting compartment, a violation of Election Commission guidelines.
The BJP-led NDA is aiming to oust the JMM-led coalition government in these elections, with key contenders including Chief Minister Hemant Soren, former Chief Minister Champai Soren, JMM leader Mahua Maji, and Congress leader Ajoy Kumar.