Jharkhand is geared up for polling in 43 of the 81 assembly seats in the first phase on Wednesday with 683 candidates in the fray including former chief minister Champai on Soren and ex-MP Geeta Kora.

In a tough electoral battle, the JMM-led coalition is aiming to retain power by banking on banking on its welfare schemes including Maiyan Samman Yojana, while the BJP-led NDA is focusing aggressive Hindutva pitch, including infiltration and corruption by the current government.

Polling is scheduled to begin around 7 am in 43 assembly constituencies in 15 districts, and will continue till 5 pm. However, in 950 booths, voting will end at 4 pm, though people standing in the queue at that time will be able to exercise their franchise.

The stage is set for a litmus test in West Bengal for the ruling Trinamool Congress with the much-awaited by-elections to six assembly constituencies on Wednesday amid an unprecedented wave of protests across the state surrounding the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Both the ruling TMC and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have fielded candidates for all six seats: Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, Taldangra, Sitai (SC), and Madarihat (ST).

Notably, five of these constituencies are in the TMC strongholds of south Bengal, while Madarihat remains a BJP bastion in the northern part of the state.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is all set for her maiden electoral contest in Kerala's Wayanad Lok Sabha by-poll on Wednesday.

During the nearly month-long poll campaign, Priyanka heavily banked on Rahul Gandhi's tenure as Wayanad MP and his popularity in the constituency to boost her prospects.

Meanwhile, her rivals, LDF's Sathyan Mokeri and NDA's Navya Haridas, are hoping that Priyanka's lack of electoral experience will discourage voters from choosing her.

Voting begins for the first phase of Jharkhand assembly elections. In this phase, voting is taking place on 43 out of 81 seats.

Visuals emerging from a polling booth set up at a government school Bihar's Imamganj, Gaya.

Bypolls to Tarari, Imamganj, Belaganj and Ramgarh assembly seats in Bihar are being held today where more than 12 lakh voters will decide the fate of 38 candidates.

Voting is taking place in a total of 1,277 booths, of which 1,196 fall in rural areas.

A small patch of land around 30 km southwest of Martello Tower and Sidhu Kanu Park in Jharkhand’s Pakur district town became a battleground this July between adivasis and Muslims over ownership, four months ahead of assembly polls, with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma raising the allegation of “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants” grabbing land from indigenous people, carrying clear undertones of the familiar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) narrative in the Northeastern state. The Muslims were accused of encroaching on tribal land and retaliating violently when opposed. The clashes stopped only after Section 144 was imposed in Gaibthan village of Maheshpur block in the Santhal Pargana region. When Sarma and BJP State President Babulal Marandi visited the area a few days after the clashes, both linked the Muslim residents of Gaibthan village to Bangladeshi infiltration.

For more insights on BJP's 'Infiltrator' tactic, read the full story here

After casting her vote, JMM candidate from Ranchi seat Mahua Maji said, "There will be no impact (of Bangladeshi infiltrators issue) as the BJP itself is facing the damage. This is entirely an issue of the central government... the Centre has failed in protecting the nation. If someone is coming from this (Bangladesh) side, then tomorrow anyone can enter from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China. The Home Minister should resign as he has failed to secure the country. States should not be blamed for this."

People queue up at a polling station in Channapatna, Karnataka to vote for Channapatna Assembly by-elections. NDA has fielded JDS leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy from this seat; five-time MLA CP Yogeshwar is contesting against him on a Congress ticket.

The entire Hindutva ecosystem in Jharkhand, under the RSS’ leadership, has mobilised to reinforce these themes. Known for framing local issues through a Hindutva lens, Sarma has aggressively reoriented Jharkhand’s historic insider-outsider dynamic—a theme that has animated politics in the region since the inception of the Jharkhand Movement in the 1930s—to support the BJP’s agenda. In this election, Sarma has attempted to change the local political narrative of portraying diku (irritating/exploitative outsider) as dominant caste groups from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Bengal to casting Muslims, particularly the spectre of “Bangladeshi infiltrators”, as the new existential threat.

Through narratives of “Love Jihad” and “Land Jihad”, the BJP alleges that Muslim outsiders are marrying Adivasi women and seizing Adivasi lands, effectively shifting the discourse to portray the JMM-led INDIA Bloc alliance as appeasers of these supposed threats. By tapping into both local anxieties and Hindu nationalistic fervour, the BJP is taking a calculated approach to reshape Jharkhand’s political landscape, aiming to fracture traditional alliances and consolidate its support among Adivasis, OBC Hindus, and SCs as the elections approach.

Read full story here

Among the 43 seats that are in fray in the first phase of elections include Kodarma, Seraikella, Ranchi, Barkatha, Barhi, Barkagaon, Hazaribagh, Simaria (SC), Chatra (SC), Baharagora, Ghatsila (ST), Potka (ST), Jugsalai (SC), Jamshedpur East.

One of the most popular faces who is in fray from Seraikella is former Chief Minister and BJP candidate Champai Soren. Soren's sudden jump from JMM to BJP has garnered attention, making it one of the most anticipated outcomes. Meanwhile JMM has fielded sitting Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji from the Ranchi seat.

Read full report

Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Governor of Jharkhand cast his vote at a polling booth in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Urging the people to comeout and vote in large numbers, the Governor said, "I appeal to the people to exercise their franchise and vote in large numbers. The way voting took place in Jammu and Kashmir, people voted in large numbers. It should be celebrated like a festival."

On November 11, 2020, a special session was convened by the Jharkhand Assembly and Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s government passed a resolution for a separate religion for the tribals. This was sent to the Central government, demanding a separate religion code for the tribals in the upcoming census. It was named the ‘Sarna tribal religion’ in the proposal.

According to the Constitution, the Centre holds the rights over religion-related laws and the President has the right of approval. The bill has been stuck for the last four years in a complicated process, but Soren and his party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), have kept the issue alive in their election rallies, laying special emphasis on it especially while campaigning in the tribal belt, as the assembly election approaches. The election will be a test of the party’s popularity among tribal voters.

To know more, read the full story here

Voting is underway across 31 Assembly seats across 10 states including in West Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Meghalaya.

Though these bye-elections are not going to have any bearing on the governments, they are seen as a big test for the Congress and the INDIA bloc which failed to put up a united show in the recent Haryana assembly polls.

Seeking people's support, Chief Minister Hemant Soren posted on X, "Today, the great festival of democracy is being organized in Jharkhand. Today, voting is being held on 43 assembly seats in the first phase of Jharkhand assembly elections. This election is going to play an important and far-reaching role in strengthening our state which is completing 24 years."

"Only by preserving the great history, civilization and culture of Jharkhand; by giving rights to the poor, deprived, exploited and half of the population; by ensuring social security, economic empowerment, education, health, harmonious society and many dimensions of sustainable development, can the tree of Jharkhand be nurtured and made huge by making it huge". he added.

"To protect the water, forest, land and the identity of Jharkhand, let us take firm, strong and meaningful steps towards building the golden Jharkhand of the dreams of the immortal brave martyrs and great revolutionaries", Soren urged.

Latehar- 13.80%

Lohardaga- 14.97%

Palamu- 11.84%

Ramgarh- 14.37%

Ranchi- 12.06%

Seraikella-kharsawan- 14.62%

Simdega- 15.09%

West Singhbhum- 13.80%

Along with the Jharkhand elections, the bypoll elections for 31 assembly seats and the parliamentary seat in Wayanad is underway. In the key Kerala seat, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi has made her political debut and contested for the Lok Sabha seat, which was previously held by her brother Rahul Gandhi.

Along with Gandhi, 15 other candidates from CPI, BJP and other parties are in the fray for the parliamentary constituency. Read more on the Wayanad bypolls here.

According to Dipak Kumar Roy, the BJP candidate from Cooch Behar's Sitai constituency, "Since last night, TMC goons are roaming around Sitai constituency to intimidate common voters... They are threatening our supporters not to vote. Today I see many polling booths are empty because voters are scared... TMC and local administration are one...Police are helping the Trinamool party."

Congress candidate for Wayanad Lok Sabha by-elections Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "People are coming out and voting, it is a good thing. I hope everyone will exercise their democratic right and vote. This is the biggest strength given to the people by the Constitution and they should use it well."

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged the voters of Jharkhand to vote to strengthen the Constitution and democracy, and said every vote for the INDIA bloc will bring prosperity in their life through seven guarantees.

"Brothers and sisters of Jharkhand, today the first phase of voting is taking place in your state. I appeal to all the voters to cast your vote to protect your rights and strengthen the constitution and democracy," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.

"Your every vote for INDIA will bring prosperity in your life through 7 guarantees, will protect 'jal-jungle-zameen (water, forest and land) and will strengthen social justice," the former Congress chief said and urged people to vote for the INDIA bloc.

Whatever connotation Sarna dharma might have prior to the formation of Jharkhand state, post-2000, it became a struggle against ‘identity crisis,’ as referred to by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and Bishunpur MLA, Chamra Linda. Sarna dharma or, more precisely, ‘Adi Dharam’, as noted by the Dr Ram Dayal Munda, was embedded in Adivasi culture since the earliest records. But, since Inde-pendence, despite several attempts, they have not been given a separate column in the Census.

To know more, read the full story here

Chatra- 29.52%

East Singhbhum- 28.34%

Garhwa- 30.38%

Gumla- 33.86%

Hazaribagh- 29.60%

Khunti- 34.12%

Kodarma- 31.10%

Latehar- 30.59%

Lohardaga- 33.44%

Palamu- 28.36%

Ramgarh- 24.17%

Ranchi- 24.75%

Seraikella-kharsawan- 32.65%

Simdega- 33.18%

West Singhbhum- 29.42%

Commenting on the poll day after casting his vote alongside wife Kalpana Soren, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren said, "Today, we went to our respective polling booths to cast our votes. I request every citizen of the state to participate in this festival of democracy to strengthen it," says CM Hemant Soren.

Raipur (Chhattisgarh)- 18.73%

Sitai, Madarihat, Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur and Taldangra (West Bengal)- 30%

Tarari, Imamganj, Belaganj and Ramgarh (Bihar)- 22.28%

Jhunjhunu, Dausa, Deoli-Uniara, Chorasi, Khinvsar, Salumbar (Rajasthan)- 24.83%

This pride in the people’s resilience and nostalgia of the struggle for statehood are once again the major themes in these elections for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). The distinction between the indigenous and outsiders (commonly known as diku) is gradually getting delineated.
Read full report here

Chatra- 45.76%

East Singhbhum- 44.88%

Garhwa- 46.75%

Gumla- 52.11%

Hazaribagh- 45.77%

Khunti- 51.37%

Kodarma- 47.33%

Latehar- 50.41%

Lohardaga- 51.53%

Palamu- 44%

Ramgarh- 46.81%

Ranchi- 40.98%

Seraikella-kharsawan- 50.71%

Simdega- 50.66%

West Singhbhum- 46.41%

Kerala is reporting a good voter turnout as the bypoll elections for the Wayanad seat is underway. As of 1 PM, the voter turnout for the election stands at 40.67 percent.

The Wayanad Lok Sabha seat was held by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for the General elections. However, after his sucesss in UP's Rae Barelli, Gandhi forfeited the seat, prompting the EC to announce a new bypoll election.

Congress is looking to regain control of the seat by contesting Priyanka Gandhi from the key Kerala seat. The Wayanad bypoll election marks Priyanka Gandhi's political debut.

A local TMC worker Ashok Shaw died following a crude bomb attack in Bhatpara, an area adjoining the Naihati assembly constituency where voting was underway on Wednesday.

The attack sparked political accusations of voter intimidation in the ongoing byelections. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has sought a report regarding the incident.

The incident drew immediate political reactions, with BJP leader Arjun Singh accusing the TMC of using intimidation tactics to instill fear among voters in Naihati and other constituencies.

Addressing a public gathering in Sarath, PM Modi said, "Today, the first phase of voting is underway in Jharkhand. The resolve to protect 'roti, beti, and maati' can be seen in every booth. Massive support is being witnessed towards the guarantees given by BJP for women empowerment and future of the youth."

Chatra- 58.23%

East Singhbhum- 58.72%

Garhwa- 61.06%

Gumla- 64.59%

Hazaribagh- 57.16%

Khunti- 63.35%

Kodarma- 58.13%

Latehar- 62.81%

Lohardaga- 65.99%

Palamu- 56.57%

Ramgarh- 59.22%

Ranchi- 53.40%

Seraikella-kharsawan- 66.38%

Simdega- 64.31%

West Singhbhum- 60.35%

An Independent candidate for the Deoli-Uniara Assembly bypoll, Naresh Meena, allegedly slapped a Sub-Divisional Officer engaged in election duty on Wednesday as area magistrate, officials said.

Meena, a Congress rebel contesting as an Independent, allegedly caught the Sub-Divisional Officer of Malpura, Amit Chaudhary, by his collar and slapped him.

According to the District election officer and Tonk Collector Saumya Jha, the residents of Samravta village had announced the bypoll boycott. "The village currently comes under the Nagar Fort Tehsil. The villagers are demanding that the village be brought under the Uniara Tehsil which is nearer," she said.

Independent candidate Naresh Meena supported the villagers who had declared to boycott the polls. When Chaudhary, the area magistrate for the bypoll, went to the village to convince people to cast their votes, the Independent candidate slapped him, Jha said.

Over 64 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm on Wednesday in the five assembly seats in Assam where by-elections were underway with sporadic violence reported from some places, news agency PTI reported.

According to the Election Commission, approximately 64.27 per cent of 9,09,057 general electors exercised their franchise in the first eight hours to decide the fate of 34 candidates.

Bypolls are taking place in Dholai, Sidli, Bongaigaon, Behali and Samaguri assembly constituencies as these seats fell vacant with their MLAs winning the Lok Sabha elections.

On November 11, 2020, a special session was convened by the Jharkhand Assembly and Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s government passed a resolution for a separate religion for the tribals. This was sent to the Central government, demanding a separate religion code for the tribals in the upcoming census.

It was named the ‘Sarna tribal religion’ in the proposal. According to the Constitution, the Centre holds the rights over religion-related laws and the President has the right of approval. The bill has been stuck for the last four years in a complicated process, but Soren and his party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), have kept the issue alive in their election rallies, laying special emphasis on it especially while campaigning in the tribal belt, as the assembly election approaches. The election will be a test of the party’s popularity among tribal voters.

READ FULL STORY

A voter turnout of 64.86% was recorded in the 43 Assembly constituencies in Jharkhand where polling was held in the first phase, officials said.

Lohardaga district topped the list with 73.21% polling while Hazaribag district recorded the lowest at 59.13, officials said and added that polling continued till 5 pm.

The poll percentage in other districts were Seraikela--Kharsawan (72.19), Gumla (69.01), Simdega (68.66), Khunti (68.36), Garhwa (67.35), Latehar (67.16), West Singhbhum (66.87) , Ramgarh (66.32), East Singhbhum (64.87), Chatra (63.26), Palamu (62.62), Koderma (62), Ranchi (60.49) and Hazaribag (59.13). 

Former CM Champai Soren and ex-MP Geeta Kora were among the 683 candidates in fray in the first phase.

The Election Commission has ordered "immediate suspension" of a Rajasthan cadre IPS officer for leaving the constituencies in Jharkhand where he was deployed as a police observer without prior authorisation.

"Kishan Sahai Meena, IPS (2004 batch), shall bc placed under immediate suspension for dereliction of duty and demonstrating negligence in fulfilling the obligations expected of an election official...," the poll authority told the Rajasthan chief secretary on Wednesday.

He was deployed as a police observer for Sisai, Gumla and Bishunpur seats in Gumla district of Jharkhand.