Jharkhand Assembly Elections: First Phase Begins
On Wednesday morning, voting commenced for the first phase of the Jharkhand assembly elections, covering 43 out of 81 seats. Additionally, by-elections are taking place for 31 assembly seats across 10 states, including the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala.
Polling Details
Voting started at 7:00 am in Jharkhand, with 43 constituencies across 15 districts participating. The election will decide the fate of 683 candidates, including 73 women. Mock voting was conducted beforehand, and visuals showed long queues of voters, including women, eager to cast their votes.
Security Arrangements
Extensive security measures have been implemented, with over 200 companies of security forces deployed. Polling will continue until 5:00 pm, except at 950 sensitive booths where it will end at 4:00 pm.
Key Candidates
The BJP-led NDA aims to unseat the JMM-led coalition. Notable candidates include former Chief Minister Champai Soren (BJP) in Seraikela, Ajoy Kumar (Congress) in Jamshedpur East, and Geeta Koda (BJP) in Jaganathpur. The JMM has nominated Mahua Maji from Ranchi.
By-Elections
In Kerala’s Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is contesting against LDF’s Satyan Mokeri and BJP’s Navya Haridas. Bypolls are also being held in Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Assam, among others.
Vote Counting
The counting of votes is scheduled for November 23.
Doubts Revealed
Jharkhand -: Jharkhand is a state in eastern India known for its rich mineral resources and forests. It was formed in the year 2000, separating from Bihar.
Assembly Elections -: Assembly elections are held to choose representatives for the legislative assembly of a state in India. These representatives make laws and decisions for the state.
By-elections -: By-elections are special elections held to fill political offices that have become vacant between general elections. This can happen if a representative resigns or passes away.
Wayanad -: Wayanad is a district in the state of Kerala, located in the southern part of India. It is known for its beautiful hills and wildlife.
Security Forces -: Security forces are groups like the police and paramilitary that help maintain peace and order during elections. They ensure that voting happens safely and without any trouble.
Champai Soren -: Champai Soren is a politician from Jharkhand who has served as the Chief Minister of the state. He is a member of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party.
Ajoy Kumar -: Ajoy Kumar is a leader from the Congress party, one of the major political parties in India. He has been involved in politics for many years.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra -: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is a prominent Indian politician and a member of the famous Nehru-Gandhi family. She is part of the Congress party.
Vote Counting -: Vote counting is the process of tallying the votes cast during an election to determine the winners. It is scheduled for November 23 in this context.