Campaigning for phase 2 of Jharkhand Assembly polls to end today

528 candidates in fray for 38 seats

Ranchi, Nov 17: Campaigning for the second phase of the Jharkhand assembly elections will officially conclude at 5 PM on Monday, November 18. This phase, considered pivotal for the state’s political landscape, will see voting across 38 constituencies on November 20, with a total of 528 candidates in the fray.

Prominent leaders whose political futures hang in the balance include Chief Minister Hemant Soren, former CM Babulal Marandi, ex-Deputy CM Sudesh Mahto, Assembly Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto, and four cabinet ministers— Irfan Ansari, Hafizul Hasan, Deepika Pandey Singh, and Baby Devi. Also in the spotlight are influential figures such as Kalpana Soren, Sita Soren, Louis Marandi, and Lobin Hembram.

The candidate pool comprises 472 men, 55 women, and one non-binary individual. Of these, 73 represent national parties, 28 are from state-level parties, and 257 are independents.

As the campaign enters its final hours, leaders from all major parties are making a last-ditch effort to rally support. After 5 PM on Monday, strict election rules will come into force. No outsiders will be allowed to remain in the constituencies, and party workers found violating this rule may face action.

State Chief Election Officer K Ravi Kumar has emphasized compliance with polling regulations, including the prohibition of camps within a 200-meter radius of polling stations unless approved. Religious or encroached sites cannot be used for election purposes, and the display of party symbols or flags in such areas is strictly banned.

Voters are reminded to carry their voter slips or any of the 12 approved identity documents on election day. Counting of votes will take place on November 23, with results expected the same day.

Voter statistics and candidate details for Jharkhand’s Second Phase Elections:-The second and final phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections on November 20 will see voting in 38 constituencies, each with distinct characteristics. Among these, Bokaro holds the highest number of voters, with 5,84,275 registered electors. On the other hand, the Littipara constituency, a reserved seat, has the least number of voters at 2,17,847.

In terms of geographical area, Mandu is the largest constituency, covering an expansive area of 1,327.37 square kilometres, while Jharia stands as the smallest, spanning just 70.51 square kilometres.

This phase differs from the first phase with a higher number of general seats. Out of the 38 constituencies, 27 are general seats, while eight are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and three for Scheduled Castes (SC).

The race for candidates is particularly competitive in Dhanwar, where 28 candidates are vying for the seat, including BJP’s state president Babulal Marandi. In contrast, Deoghar has the fewest candidates, with only seven contenders in the fray.