Jharkhand Elections 2024 Phase 1 Live Updates: Voting takes place in 43 seats in the first phase of Jharkhand Assembly elections today, November 13. The 43 Assembly constituencies are spread across 15 districts of the state. The second phase of elections for 38 seats is scheduled for November 20. The results will be announced on November 23.

Jharkhand’s 43 seats recorded a voter turnout of 46.25 percent till 1 p.m., the Election Commission of India said. Whereas, Wayanad Lok Sabha and Chelakkara assembly constituencies in Kerala recorded a voter turnout of 34.38 and 36.08 percent, respectively, after the first five hours of voting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters to turn out in large numbers and exercise their right to vote. “Today is the first round of voting in the Jharkhand Assembly elections. I urge all voters to vote with all enthusiasm on this festival of democracy,” Modi said in a message on X.

Today’s vote will decide the fate of 683 candidates. Among the major candidates in the first phase is former chief minister Champai Soren, who is contesting for the first time as a BJP candidate (Saraikela). Odisha Governor and daughter-in-law of former CM Raghubar Das, Purnima Das Sahu (Jamshedpur East) and Saryu Roy are contesting from Janata Dal – (United) (Jamshedpur West) headquarters in today’s polls .

The seats voted for today include 17 general seats, 20 reserved for Scheduled Tribes and six for Scheduled Castes.

Voting began at 7 a.m. at 15,344 polling stations. This will continue until 5 p.m.

The contest in Jharkhand is between the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led INDIA bloc and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

In the 2019 assembly elections, the JMM emerged as the largest party with 30 seats, while the BJP won 25. The Congress won 16 seats, the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) got three seats, while the ‘All Jharkhand Students Union won 2 seats.

The JMM formed a government with the support of the Congress and the RJD. The alliance – part of the INDIA bloc – is contesting again in the 2024 parliamentary elections, with the Hemant Soren-led JMM contesting 43 of the 81 assembly seats. The Congress has fielded candidates for 30 seats. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is contesting six seats while the Left parties are contesting three seats.

In the NDA bloc, the Bharatiya Janata Party is contesting on 68 seats, while its alliance partner All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) has fielded one candidate for 10 seats. The Janata Dal (United) is contesting for 2 seats and Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is contesting for 1 seat in the Jharkhand polls.

Bypoll Wayanad

A vote is also being held for the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll where Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is making her debut. Vadra is seeking to retain the party stronghold that his brother, Rahul Gandhi, won in the last two Lok Sabha elections. Rahul left Wayanad and retained Raebareli after winning both the seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Wayanad recorded a turnout of 27 per cent till 11 am.

Priyanka Gandhi urged people to vote. “My dearest brothers and sisters. Please vote today, it’s your day, a day for you to make your choice and exercise the greatest power our constitution has given you. Let’s build together a better future!”, she said in a message on X.

Bypolls are also being held today on 33 assembly seats across 11 states. The 33 by-pass seats include seven in Rajasthan, six in West Bengal and five in Assam. The six Assembly seats in West Bengal are Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, Taldangra, Sitai and Madarihat. In Assam, polling will be held in Samaguri, Behali, Bongaigaon, Sidli and Dholai seats.