The first phase of voter turnout for the 43 Assembly Constituencies (AC) in Jharkhand recorded 64.86 per cent on Wednesday. Simultaneously, by-polls were also held peacefully in 31 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) in 10 states and in Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala, where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is contesting. Wayanad recorded 64.27 per cent voter turnout. In the previous election, the percentage was 72.92 per cent.

Sporadic incidents of violence, including a crude bomb attack in Bhatpara near Naihati Assembly constituency that killed a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker, marred the West Bengal bypolls. Two Assembly constituencies in Sikkim were uncontested. According to the Election Commission’s data, a voter turnout of 64.86 per cent was recorded at the polling stations in Jharkhand which has already surpassed 63.9 per cent voting in these 43 ACs in 2019. Lohardaga district topped the list with 73.21 per cent polling while Hazaribag district recorded the lowest at 59.13. Former Chief Minister Champai Soren and ex-MP Geeta Kora were among the 683 candidates in fray in the first phase.

“Today is the first round of voting in Jharkhand Assembly elections. I urge all voters to vote with full enthusiasm in this festival of democracy. On this occasion, my heartiest congratulations to all my young friends who are going to vote for the first time! Remember - first vote, then refreshment!,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X. Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar cast his vote at the ATI polling booth in Ranchi. “Today is the first phase of voting for the Jharkhand Assembly elections. I urge all voters to exercise their constitutional right to vote. Remember, first vote and then refreshment!” Gangwar said.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren sought people’s support in the elections. In a post on X, he said, “If you like our work, please support us. I promise that I will do 10 years of work in the next 5 years so that no one can stop our pace of progress.” Unfazed by threats and boycott calls from Maoists, people in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas in Jharkhand turned out in impressive numbers to vote.

In Budha Pahad area in Garhwa district, once considered a stronghold of extremists, long queues, and peaceful polling at Hesatu Polling station signalled the deep penetration of democratic ethos.

For the first time, this polling station was set up in the Buddha Pahad area for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, allowing residents to vote in their own village. In the Manoharpur and Jagannathpur Assembly constituency of West Singhbhum district, voters chose to cast their vote in spite of boycott posters and threat calls by extremists. At polling stations in Sonapi in Jagannathpur AC and Rabangada in Manoharpur AC, security forces thwarted attempts to prevent voters from voting through boycott posters and blockades on the way.

While the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led coalition is seeking to retain power riding on its welfare schemes, including Maiyan Samman Yojna, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been campaigning with its aggressive Hindutva agenda, infiltration and alleged corruption by the current dispensation. Key battles include former Chief Minister Champai Soren, who is contesting on a BJP ticket in Seraikela, facing JMM’s Ganesh Mahli. Geeta Kora, wife of former CM Madhu Koda, is contesting against Congress’ Sona Ram Sinku in Jagannathpur.Veteran Congress leader Rameshwar Oraon is up against AJSU’s Shanti Bhagat in Lohardaga, while Janata Dal (United)’s Saryu Roy is facing Congress’ Banna Gupta in Jamshedpur (West).

Meanwhile, the high profile Wayanad seat bypolls recorded 64.27 per cent voter turnout. In the previous election, the percentage was 72.92 percent.

Sporadic incidents of violence, including a crude bomb attack in Bhatpara near Naihati Assembly constituency that killed a local TMC worker, marred the West Bengal bypolls, while the voter turnout across six constituencies stood at 69.29 till 5pm. The killing of local TMC worker Ashok Shaw sparked political accusations of voter intimidation during the ongoing bypolls, prompting the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office to seek a report on the incident.The incident drew immediate political reactions, with BJP leader Arjun Singh accusing the TMC of using intimidation tactics to instil fear among voters in Naihati and other constituencies.

In Rajasthan, Ramgarh witnessed the highest turnout of 71.45 per cent. An estimated 72.96 per cent of the 9.1 lakh electorate exercised their franchise in the bypolls to the five Assam Assembly constituencies in Assam amid minor incidents of violence. Samaguri, which witnessed several incidents of pre-poll violence, recorded the highest polling percentage of 78.10.

An estimated 76.9 per cent voters turned out in three Assembly segments of Karnataka where bypolls were held. Voter turnouts of 75.27% and 72.37%, respectively, were recorded in the bypolls to Vijaypur and Budhni Assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh.

A voter turnout of 46.43 per cent was recorded in the bypoll to the Raipur City South Assembly constituency in Chhattisgarh. The Vav Assembly seat in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district recorded a provisional voter turnout of 68.01 per cent in the by-election.