April 20, 2026 11:55 pm (IST)
Follow us:
Jharkhand Assembly elections: Voting in first phase of polling begins
Ranchi/IBNS: Polling in the first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly polls is currently going where voters in thirteen constituencies are expected to seal the fates of 189 candidates on Saturday.
The constituencies are spread across six districts in the BJP-ruled state.
A 3.7 million-strong electorate, including 1.8 million women and five transgender voters, are expected to exercise their franchise in this phase of the polls.
Chatra, Gumla, Bishunpur, Lohardaga, Manika, Latehar, Panki, Daltonganj, Bishrampur, Chhatarpur, Hussainabad, Garhwa and Bhawanathpur are the 13 seats where polling will take place in the first phase.
“We have made adequate security arrangements both for electors and polling personnel. A large number of security personnel have been deployed at all polling stations, besides heli-dropping and cluster arrangements have also been ensured,” Vinay Kumar Choubey, chief electoral officer (CEO), Jharkhand was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
Polling is scheduled to commence at 7 am. It is expected to end at 3 pm.
The Bharatiya Janata Party is ruling the state and it is a crucial Assembly poll for the state which lost Maharashtra despite emerging as the largest winning party in the polls.
In a bid to give a challenge to the BJP, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress and Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal announced a pre-poll alliance.
Jharkhand is the last Assembly polls in India this year.
The election in the state will be held in five phases.
The results will be announced on Dec 23.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
'I won’t bend': Delhi High Court judge rejects Kejriwal’s recusal plea in sharp rebuke
Mon, Apr 20 2026
Big boost to India-Morocco ties as INS Sudarshini wraps key visit
Mon, Apr 20 2026
Passengers panic mid-air as Fly91 flight to Hubballi circles for 4 hours amid bad weather
Mon, Apr 20 2026
15 killed, 20 injured as bus plunges into gorge in J&K’s Udhampur
Mon, Apr 20 2026