Electoral Battle Heats Up in Jharkhand: Big Names and Tight Contest

Voting in Jharkhand's assembly elections commenced, featuring 683 candidates including former CM Champai Soren. Key issues include BJP's aggressive Hindutva agenda against the JMM-led coalition's welfare schemes. The first phase involves 1.37 crore eligible voters across 43 seats, setting the stage for a high-stakes political showdown.

The first phase of Jharkhand's assembly elections kicked off on Wednesday, engaging voters in a fierce political battle. With a total of 683 candidates, including prominent figures like former Chief Minister Champai Soren and ex-MP Geeta Kora, the election has drawn significant attention.

Polling commenced at 7 AM across 15 districts, where the electorate, comprising 1.37 crore voters, began casting their votes. The BJP, spearheaded by high-profile rallies from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other party leaders, is taking on the JMM-led coalition with an aggressive campaign focusing on Hindutva and alleged corruption.

This election sees 43 seats in contention, of which 17 are reserved for general, 20 for Scheduled Tribes, and 6 for Scheduled Castes. The process is heavily supervised with 15,344 polling stations set up, and, notably, some managed exclusively by women. With the political stakes high and multiple issues at the forefront, Jharkhand braces for a defining electoral moment.

(With inputs from agencies.)