In Jharkhand, the stage is set for the second and final round of the electoral battle between the JMM-Congress-RJD coalition, who will seek to retain power, and the BJP-headed NDA will try to clinch it.

A total of 1.23 crore voters including 60.79 lakh women and 147 third gender voters are eligible to participate in the voting on Wednesday.

Back in 2019, JMM bagged 30 seats and the BJP secured 25, down from 37 in 2014. The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance won a comfortable majority with 47 seats.

The list of prominent candidates for the second phase include Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren (both JMM), his sister-in-law Sita Soren (BJP), state BJP president and ex-CM Babulal Marandi, Assembly Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto (JMM), AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri (BJP).

Key factors that are likely to influence the election include the BJP's central welfare schemes and the arrest and subsequent bail of Soren by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The ruling alliance claims the arrest was politically motivated, as Soren was detained in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land fraud.

This time, NDA is banking on the narratives of infiltration from Bangladesh, corruption of leaders including CM Hemant Soren who is out on bail, and the issue of Hindutva, the JMM-led ruling dispensation, on the other hand, tried to woo voters by promising welfare schemes and charging the BJP with spending Rs 500 crore in "malicious campaigns" against the CM who is a "tribal leader".

Visuals have started coming in showing voters have started to queue up outside a polling booth in Silli.

The second phase of voting will decide the electoral fate of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren (both JMM), and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri (BJP) besides more than 500 other candidates who are contesting in 38 of the total 81 assembly seats.

Read more on Jharkhand Assembly Elections Phase 2

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 more here

In Jharkhand's Dumka, people queued up outside a polling booth as they await their turn to cast vote for the second and final phase of the state assembly elections.

A voter turnout of 64.86% was recorded in the 43 Assembly constituencies in Jharkhand where polling was held in the first phase on November 13, 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.

Urging people to come out and vote in large numbers, PM Narendra Modi said, "Today is the second and last phase of the great festival of democracy in Jharkhand. I urge all voters to participate in it enthusiastically and create a new record of voting. On this occasion, I specially congratulate all my young friends who are going to vote for the first time. Your every vote is the strength of the state."

Since its formation in 2000, Jharkhand has turned out to be a political hotbed- where most of the mainstream political parties wanted to have its hold, despite its 14 seats in the Lok Sabha. With JMM CM Hemant Soren's arrest earlier this year, a number of questions keep lurking walking into the polls.

Today, we are looking at Jharkhand which has witnessed a significant shifts in the run-up to the polls with the arrest of Hemant Soren earlier this year. The NDA will look to replicate its 2019 performance in the state while the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Congress-led INDIA bloc look to ride on its support from tribal communities, which forms the nucleus of Jharkhand's voter base. As the state goes to polls from May 13, here are the major parties and key factors that will play a crucial role in the coming days.

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Commenting on the poll day, BJP candidate from Chandankiyari Amar Kumar Bauri said, "It is the morning of hope for Jharkhand. Twenty five years of Jharkhand is going to complete. The people are going to choose a government which will rule for five years. There is an atmosphere to save 'maati-beti-roti'. I am going to vote. We will get full majority, and form the government."

Bokaro- 12.48%

Deoghar- 14.24%

Dhanbad- 12.76%

Dumka- 14.48%

Giridih- 12.69%

Godda- NA

Hazaribagh- 14.02%

Jamtara- 14.90%

Pakur- 16.12%

Ramgarh- 15.87%

Ranchi- 16.00%

Sahebganj- 14.17%

On November 15, the 150th birth anniversary of Adivasi icon Birsa Munda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah renamed Delhi’s Sarai Kale Khan Chowk as Birsa Munda Chowk. According to BJP leaders, this is the first time in the history of independent India that an Adivasi leader’s name has been etched on the streets of the National Capital.

Coincidentally, thousands of miles away, just a day before—in a different time zone—a 22-year-old indigenous Member of Parliament from New Zealand, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, rocked social media by performing Haka on the floor of the House. Her protest through this traditional Maori dance form against a controversial bill that would allegedly curtail the rights of the indigenous people made it a spectacle.

Read full article here

Bokaro- 27.72%

Deoghar- 32.84%

Dhanbad- 28.02%

Dumka- 33.05%

Giridih- 31.56%

Godda- 33.39%

Hazaribagh- 31.04%

Jamtara- 33.78%

Pakur- 35.15%

Ramgarh- 33.45%

Ranchi- 34.75%

Sahebganj- 30.90%

Hours before the commencement of the second and final phase of the Jharkhand assembly elections on Wednesday, five trucks were torched allegedly by Maoists in Latehar district, police said.

The incident occurred in Laat forest under the jurisdiction of Herhanj Police Station around 1.30 am, a senior officer said.

The trucks were deployed in coal transportation at the Tubed coal project in Latehar.

“The trucks were returning after dumping coal when they were set on fire by members of the banned Jharkhand Prastuti Committee (JPC), a splinter group of Maoists. An investigation has been initiated and raids are being conducted to arrest the perpetrators of the crime,” Latehar Superintendent of Police Kumar Gaurav said.

The Maoists left a pamphlet at the spot in which they threatened to stop the work of loading and transporting at the Tubed coal project until talks are held with the banned outfit, according to PTI.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MLA from Dumka Assembly Constituency Basant Soren speaks to Outlook on key issues ahead of the Jharkhand elections, reaffirming his commitment to serving his people without seeking ministerial positions.

Addressing the controversy around alleged Bangladeshi infiltration, he dismisses the claims as politically driven and baseless, emphasising the longstanding presence of indigenous communities in the region. Soren highlights his dedication to Dumka, with plans to improve education, healthcare, and employment. He also reflects on the resilience of the JMM, noting the unity and strength the party has displayed through challenges.

Watch the full interview

The highest voting turnout of 35.15 per cent was recorded from Pakur, followed by 34.75 percent in Ranchi, 33.78 per cent in Jamtara and 33.45 per cent in Ramgarh district.

In the first four hours of polling, Godda recorded a turnout of 33.39 per cent, Dumka 33.05 per cent, Deoghar 32.84 per cent, Giridih 31.56 per cent, Hazaribag 31.04 per cent Sahebganj 30.90 per cent and Dhanbad 28.02 per cent.

The lowest turnout was reported from Bokaro at 27.72 per cent till 11 AM.

Bokaro- 42.52%

Deoghar- 49.83%

Dhanbad- 43.16%

Dumka- 50.28%

Giridih- 48.01%

Godda- 50.27%

Hazaribagh- 48.62%

Jamtara- 52.21%

Pakur- 53.83%

Ramgarh- 51.26%

Ranchi- 52.10%

Sahebganj- 47.51%

To bring the focus back on the NRC and ‘Bangladeshi infiltrators’, BJP has given the electoral charge to Assam CM Himant Biswa Sarma and union agricultural minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Sarma is well-versed in the politics of ‘outsider-insider’ as he has multiple times evoked this binary in his home state. Though the politics of Assam is totally different from Jharkhand, the question of indigeneity and the invasive outsiders always strike the chords.

Addressing a rally at Sahebgunj, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said “Infiltrators are the vote bank of Lalu Prasad’s RJD, Rahul baba’s Congress and Hemant Soren’s JMM. I promise to drive out illegal immigrants. The time has come to show the corrupt JMM dispensation the exit door…We want to change Jharkhand.” Marking "rampant infiltration" as one of the major issues of the state, he also said that illegal immigrants would become majority in the state within 25-30 years. The newly installed Bangladesh government has criticised Shah’s statement and, in a note, expressed its “reservation, deep sense of hurt and extreme displeasure”.

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While the narratives of identity and religion are getting traction in the elections, the JMM is also banking on the welfare measures taken up by its government in recent times. Just before the Rakshabandhan this year, Hemant Soren government launched Maiya Samman Yojana to empower the women of age group between 20-50 years through distribution of Rs. 1000 every month.

However, soon they expanded the scheme for the women above 18 years. As the BJP started criticising the government for the ‘small amount’ in comparison to the similar schemes in the BJP-ruled states, the JMM government increased the amount to Rs. 2,500 that would be implemented December onwards. Read more

If this candidate breaks his election promises, people can take him to court. For example, if the funds meant for people in mining-affected areas are not utilised for giving scholarships to students as he has promised in his electoral manifesto, you can file a complaint against him.

He is a former journalist who perhaps is aware of the importance of accountability in Indian politics. This time, he is fighting from Bermo assembly constituency of Jharkhand as an independent candidate.

Sporting a red tika, a bushy beard, and long untamed hair, 30-year-old Tirth Nath Akash has brought in a new swing in Jharkhand politics. Through an affidavit in Civil Court, Bokaro, he has declared that if he fails to deliver on the promises of his electoral manifesto within three years of being elected as an MLA, any resident of Jharkhand would be able to file a police complaint against him. The affidavit also says if he is charged in the cases by the people of the state, he would not even file an appeal in the higher courts. READ FULL STORY

-Voter turnout of 61.47 per cent registered in 38 assembly seats till 3 PM in the second and final phase of Jharkhand polls.

-The highest voting turnout of 69.31 per cent was reported from Pakur, followed by 68.24 per cent from Jamtara, 66.02 per cent from Ramgarh and 65.84 per cent from Ranchi district.

-Dumka recorded a turnout of 64.79 per cent, Deoghar 64.55 per cent, Godda 62.91 per cent, Sahebganj 60.08 per cent, Hazaribag 58.16 per cent and Bokaro 56.38 per cent.

-The lowest turnout was recorded in Dhanbad at 56.32 per cent till 3 PM.

As the campaigns for the Jharkhand Assembly elections reaches its peak, the word ‘Abua’ has taken centrestage in political conversation. In their campaigns, both Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his MLA wife Kalpana Soren evoked the term ‘Abua Sarkar’ several times. The Sorens in their statements made the distinction between ‘us’ and ‘them’ very clear. “Those who come from outside don’t know our culture, language and rituals. Only a government under the leadership of Hemant Soren would be ‘Abua Sarkar’,” fumed Kalpana.

But what does the word ‘Abua’ mean? Why is the word so important in Jharkhand politics that JMM has named its major schemes with the prefix ‘Abua’? READ HERE

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while addressing the media on November 4 in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, alleged: “Hemant Soren is a spokesperson of infiltrators.” By infiltrator, he meant Jharkhand’s Bengali-speaking Muslims, most of whom, if not all, he evidently holds as infiltrators from Bangladesh.

This remark came three days after Sarma alleged that under Chief Minister Soren’s rule, Hindus were becoming ‘outsiders’ in Jharkhand. A couple of days before that, on October 29, Sarma alleged that Jharkhand’s Santhal Pargana region “is in line to become mini-Bangladesh”. He even compared himself with the Ramayan epic’s Lord Hanuman—well, almost—when he likened his ‘setting fire on infiltrators’ to Hanuman’s setting Lanka ablaze. READ FULL STORY HERE

Jharkhand BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Wednesday said he had filed a complaint with the Election Commission against a presiding officer for allegedly "favouring a ruling party candidate" in Madhupur assembly constituency during voting. Dubey claimed that following his complaint, the officer was arrested.

However, the Deoghar administration said the officer was replaced after being found too close to the voting compartment, which is against Election Commission rules.

-PTI

When Hemant Soren was sent to jail on corruption charges some eight months back, Imran Raza, a staunch supporter, took to social media. “The man has guts: he chose prison over an alliance with the BJP [the Bharatiya Janata Party],” he wrote. 

Like many of his ilk, Raza, a Muslim in Jharkhand, has high hopes for Soren's government. But after five years, he feels the Muslims of the state got played by a party that canvassed their votes by appealing to their sense of fear.  READ FULL STORY

About 68 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 PM in 38 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand where voting in the second and final phase ended.

The highest turnout of 76.16 per cent was reported from Jamtara district, followed by 75.88 per cent from Pakur, 72.46 per cent from Deoghar and 72.01 per cent from Ranchi.

Ramgarh registered a turnout of 71.98 per cent, Dumka 71.74 per cent, Godda 67.24 per cent, Sahebganj 65.63 per cent, Giridih 65.89 per cent, Hazaribag 64.41 per cent and Dhanbad 63.39 per cent.

The lowest turnout was recorded in Bokaro district at 60.97 per cent till 5 PM.