Ranchi, Jharkhand – In a significant display of democratic participation, Jharkhand has outperformed Maharashtra in voter turnout during the Phase 2 voting of the 2024 Assembly Elections, with over 67% of eligible voters casting their ballots. This phase, which covers 38 constituencies, began at 7 AM and will continue until 5 PM at various polling stations across the state. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress alliance faces a robust challenge from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the local All Jharkhand Students Union Party. A total of 528 candidates are competing for the vacant seats, and security measures have been tightly enforced to ensure a smooth voting process. As of 5 PM, the voter turnout stood at 67.59%, surpassing Maharashtra's 58.22%.
The elections have not been without controversy. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey filed a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging misconduct by the presiding officer at booth number 111 in the Madhupur assembly constituency. Dubey claimed the officer exhibited favoritism towards JMM candidate and current minister Hafizul Hasan. In response to the complaint, the Election Commission promptly arrested the presiding officer. Chief Minister Hemant Soren is campaigning vigorously in Barhet against BJP's Gamaliel Hembrom, while his wife, Kalpana Soren, is contesting against BJP's Munia Devi in Gande. Veteran politician Shibu Soren’s daughter-in-law, Sita Soren, is also facing off against Congress’s Irfan Ansari in Jamtara.
With a total of 14,218 polling stations established across the state, including 239 designed specifically for women, the voting process has been closely monitored. The Election Commission has reported seizing illegal cash and materials worth Rs 200 crore since the Model Code of Conduct was put into effect. In the last election cycle in 2019, the JMM-Congress-RGD alliance secured 47 seats, while the BJP won 25 seats. On the ground, BJP candidate Amarkumar Bauri expressed optimism about the elections, stating, “This is a morning of hope for Jharkhand. The people will elect a government that will rule for five years.” He emphasized the party’s commitment to securing an absolute majority.
Conversely, Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been vocal in his criticism of the BJP, accusing them of neglecting Jharkhand's rightful share of Rs 1.36 lakh crore from the state development fund. He called on voters to recognize the importance of their rights and the future of their children. “This is our right, the future of our children, and the security of the people of Jharkhand. We will take our right,” Soren stated. The first phase of voting saw a boycott appeal from Maoist groups, which was ultimately rejected by voters in Naxal-hit regions. Security forces successfully thwarted attempts to disrupt polling. As the ballots are counted and exit polls loom, the political landscape of Jharkhand hangs in the balance, with the outcomes poised to shape the state’s governance for the coming years.
