Ranchi, February 23: Voting is underway in Jharkhand’s 48 urban local bodies for the formation of municipal governments. The polls began at 7 AM amidst tight security across the state. Voters are seen enthusiastically standing in queues at 4,304 polling stations.
Long lines have been observed outside the booths since morning, with a significant turnout of youth, elderly, and women. Voting will continue until 5 PM. More than 562 candidates are contesting for mayor and chairperson positions, while over 5,562 candidates are vying for ward councilor seats. Uncontested elections have already taken place for ward councilor positions in 38 wards across 16 local bodies. The total number of wards in all local bodies is 1,087, and the political fate of all candidates will be sealed in 8,678 ballot boxes.
Counting of votes will commence on February 27 at 8 AM. A total of 4,333,574 voters are eligible to exercise their right to vote, including 2,207,203 men, 2,126,227 women, and 144 third-gender voters. This election is being held on a non-partisan basis, although various political parties have fielded their supported candidates. Voters are casting their votes for mayor, chairperson, and ward councilor positions.
Voting is taking place in nine municipal corporations: Ranchi, Dhanbad, Deoghar, Adityapur, Chas, Medininagar, Hazaribagh, Giridih, and Mango, along with 20 municipal councils and 19 town councils. While the elections are non-partisan, all parties have mobilized their resources for the campaign. Supported candidates from various parties are contesting, and party leaders have put in significant effort during the election campaign.
A dry day has been declared in the respective areas during voting, with a complete ban on alcohol sales. District election officials have been instructed to send status reports to the State Election Commission every two hours. For any complaints regarding disturbances, citizens can contact the election commission’s helpline at 8987791131 or the control room at 1950.
This election is considered significant in many ways. For the first time, reservation provisions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, and backward classes have been implemented in urban local bodies. This is expected to ensure broader and more inclusive representation in urban governance.
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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