Jharkhand elections 2024 LIVE updates: Over 13% turnout till 9.30 a.m. as voting underway for 43 seats

Simdega district registered the highest voter turnout at 15.09%, followed by 14.97% each at Lohardaga and Koderma districts, and 14.62% in Seraikela-Kharsawan.

Ramgarh and Khunti both recorded 14.37% voting each, followed by 13.93% in Gumla and 13.80% in West Sinbhum and Latehar districts.

Garhwa recorded 13.41% polling, Chatra 13.21%, Hazaribag 13.20%, Ranchi 12.06%, Palamu 11.84%, and East Sinbhum 11.25%.

Jharkhand police is using drones for surveillance in Ranchi to provide comprehensive security arrangements as voting is underway for the first phase of Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024.

SP City Raj Kumar Mehta said, “The message to the people of Ranchi is to exercise their franchise. We want people to vote peacefully for bright future of their children. Drones are being used for security purposes. Senior citizens should be allowed to vote first.”

A voter turnout of 13.04% was recorded till 9 a.m. in the first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly Elections, as per the Election Commission of India.

- ANI

Rahul Gandhi in a post on X appealed to the people of Jharkhand to cast their vote and strengthen the democracy. 

“I appeal to all the voters to cast your vote to protect your rights and strengthen the Constitution and democracy,” says Rahul Gandhi. 

“Every vote for INDIA will bring prosperity in your life through 7 Guarantees, protect water, forest and land and empower social justice,” he adds. 

Additional Chief Electoral Officer, Jharkhand, Dr. Neha Arora confirms that till 9:30 a.m., the voting percentage in the first phase is 13.04%.

Voting in 43 seats is underway. 

-Amit Bhelari

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday urged people to vote to strengthen democracy and said before pressing the EVM button they must think about forming a government that ensures the participation of all and not one that “divides, misleads and polarises”.

His remarks came as polling began for 43 Assembly seats in Jharkhand, Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election and bypolls in 31 Assembly constituencies in 10 states.

In a post in Hindi on X, Mr. Kharge said all voters are requested to cast their valuable votes to strengthen democracy and the Constitution.

“The people of Jharkhand have to vote for social justice for all, inclusive development and good governance as well as for the protection of ‘jal, jungle, zameen (water, forests, land) and tribal civilisation, and to keep divisive forces away from the State,” the Congress president said.

“Before pressing the button on the EVM, you have to think that we have to form a government that ensures the involvement and participation of the people, not a government that divides, misleads and polarises the people, only then will we be able to save the values of the Constitution,” Mr. Kharge said.

“We welcome and congratulate our friends who are voting for the first time. Exercise your rights thoughtfully. Definitely vote and inspire others too,” he said. 

Voting is underway for 43 Assembly seats in Jharkhand on Wednesday, with a total of 683 candidates trying their luck, including former CM Champai Soren and ex-MP Geeta Kora. 

Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar casts his vote at the ATI polling booth in Ranchi. 

“Today is the first phase of voting for the Jharkhand Assembly elections. I urge all voters to exercise their constitutional right to vote as soon as possible and vote with full enthusiasm in this festival of democracy. Remember, first vote and then refreshment!” Mr. Gangwar said. 

In a post on X, he 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.” While the JMM-led coalition is seeking to retain power riding on its welfare schemes, including Maiyan Samman Yojna, the BJP has been campaigning with its aggressive Hindutva agenda, infiltration and alleged corruption by the current dispensation. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to those voting in the first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly polls on Wednesday to exercise their franchise in record numbers to end corruption, infiltration and appeasement in the State. 

“I appeal to all the voters going to vote in the first phase of polling in Jharkhand to cast record votes for the creation of a Jharkhand which is free from corruption, infiltration and appeasement, and is developed,” Mr. Shah wrote on X in Hindi. 

The Home Minister said the people of Jharkhand should vote in large numbers to protect tribal identity, land, security of women, and employment for the youth.

Mr. Shah also asked the people to vote before having breakfast, saying, “Roti-beti-mati ke liye pehle matdan, phir jalpan”. 

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Kalpana Soren and wife of Chief Minister Hemant Soren is one of the party’s star campaigners and is not leaving a single stone unturned to ensure the victory of INDIA bloc candidates. 

In a very short span of time, Ms. Soren has turned out to be a mature politician and kept the party united at the time when it was required the most, when her husband was behind the bars in an alleged money laundering case. She has addressed over 400 rallies after she made her debut in politics in May. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged voters to exercise their franchise with “full enthusiasm” in the first round of voting in the Jharkhand Assembly elections.

“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 in Hindi on X.

“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’!” he added. 

The BJP vowed to implement the Uniform Civil Code in Jharkhand if voted to power in the State, but promised to keep tribals out of its ambit, according to the party’s manifesto for the upcoming Assembly election.

The manifesto, or Sankalp Patra, was released by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (November 3, 2024). It has 25 resolutions, and includes a number of freebies.

“We will bring the Uniform Civil Code [UCC] to Jharkhand and let me assure you that tribals will not be affected at all,” Mr. Shah said. 

Voting for 43 assembly seats in Jharkhand commenced on Wednesday with a total of 683 candidates trying their luck, including former CM Champai Soren and ex-MP Geeta Kora. 

Polling began around 7 A.M. in these constituencies across 15 districts and will continue till 5 P.M. 

However, voting in 950 booths will end at 4 p.m., though people standing in the queue at that time will be able to exercise their franchise, an official said. 

PTI

Ahead of the voting for the Jharkhand Assembly elections, officials conducted mock polling at various polling stations across the state on Wednesday morning. The mock polling began at around 5.30 a.m.

“We started the mock poll at 5:30 a.m. Our agents are here. We are fully prepared, and all voters are welcome,” said Presiding Officer Nitasha at Polling Booth Number 291, speaking to ANI.

The Congress on Tuesday (November 12, 2024) released its manifesto for the Jharkhand assembly elections promising 250 units of free electricity, caste-based census and filling up of all vacant government posts within a year. 

The manifesto, unveiled by party manifesto committee chairman Bandhu Tirkey, focused on seven promises including the 1932 Khatiyan-based domicile policy and implementation of Sarna religious code of the tribals.

The manifesto was released a day before the first phase of polling for 43 of the total 81 seats of the state.

“The manifesto promises free electricity up to 250 units to poor as against 200 units at present. We will fill up all vacant government posts in a year,” Tirkey said.

He said, “Keeping in mind the interests of the tribals in Jharkhand, the Manifesto Committee held a Chaupal in every district and interacted with the public. We made every effort to ensure that our manifesto is for the common people.” -- PTI

As the campaign for the first phase of polling in the Jharkhand Assembly election ends on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed BJP workers during the party’s ‘ mera booth sabse mazboot‘ (my booth is the strongest) programme in Ranchi.

During the address, he accused the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress of only thinking about “power and money” and not caring about the common man. He also said family oriented parties are not only corrupt but are also the “biggest wall” in the path of talented youth. 

Alleging that the Congress-JMM coalition wanted to divide OBCs by pitting sub-castes against each other, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (November 10, 2024) told an election rally in Jharkhand ‘ek rahoge toh safe rahoge’ (be united to be safe).

Addressing the rally in Bokaro ahead of the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections, Mr. Modi claimed that till there was no unity between OBCs, tribals and Dalits, the Congress kept forming governments at the Centre.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday (November 9, 2024) accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of insulting and making a mockery of the Constitution by showing a “fake” copy of it. Mr. Shah also claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will never allow the Congress to implement reservations for minorities.

“Rahul Gandhi shows a copy of the Constitution. He was exposed two days back. Someone got a copy of the Constitution he has shown. The Constitution of India was written on the cover of that copy which was void of any content....Don’t make a mockery of the Constitution. It is a question of faith and trust. By waving a fake copy of the Constitution, you have insulted B.R. Ambedkar and the Constituent Assembly. The Congress party has made the Constitution a mockery,” Mr. Shah alleged addressing a BJP rally in Palamu.

Champai Soren, a former loyalist of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), says that he is determined to devote the remainder of his political career to deal with the issue of “infiltration” in Santhal Pargana. Mr. Soren, who was the Chief Minister of Jharkhand for about five months while Hemant Soren was in jail for a money-laundering case, said that several decisions taken when he was in power have now been put on hold. He says he joined the BJP as he was sure that he could work on the “infiltration” issue.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in his first public meeting in Jharkhand for the Assembly election, slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for attempting to “snatch the land, forest and water” of tribals. He also accused the BJP of destroying the Indian Constitution, while promising to protect the rights of the tribals.

Mr. Gandhi addressed two public meetings in support of INDIA bloc candidates in the Simdega and Lohardaga Assembly seats.

The INDIA bloc on Tuesday (November 5, 2024) jointly launched its manifesto Nyay Patra for the Jharkhand Assembly election in Ranchi.

The Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance manifesto was released in the presence of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and representatives of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist).

The manifesto talks about seven guarantees — 1932 Khatiyan, social justice, Maiya Samman Yojna, food security, employment and health security, education and farmer welfare.