Ranchi: Senior leaders across Jharkhand cast their votes on Monday as polling continued in 48 urban local bodies. The Governor, Members of Parliament and state ministers appealed to citizens to participate actively in the democratic process.
Governor Santosh Gangwar Votes in Ranchi
Santosh Kumar Gangwar cast his vote at a polling station on the Administrative Training Institute campus in Ranchi. He said local body elections directly influence grassroots development and urged voters to choose representatives committed to regional and state welfare. He emphasised that while voters decide the candidate, every citizen must exercise the right to vote.
MPs Encourage Voter Turnout
Godda MP Nishikant Dubey voted with his family in the Deoghar Municipal Corporation area and shared a message on social media encouraging citizens to cast their ballots. He also questioned the use of ballot papers, saying such a system could slow development in the digital age. However, he expressed confidence in BJP-supported candidates.
Hazaribagh MP Manish Jaiswal also cast his vote and described the elections as vital for development, cleanliness and transparency. He urged people to follow the message: “First vote, then refreshment.”
Ministers Stress Youth Participation
Minister Sudivya Kumar voted in Giridih. State Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperation Minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey cast her vote at Sant Ajay Middle School in Dahisot Banhora. Both leaders highlighted voting as a right and responsibility and encouraged young voters to participate. They called for educated, experienced and visionary leadership in urban local bodies.
Sanjay Seth Alleges Mismanagement
Union Minister of State for Defence and Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth alleged mismanagement in the conduct of the elections. After voting, he claimed that using a single ballot box instead of separate boxes for mayor and ward councillor posts appeared suspicious. Seth arrived at the polling station on a motorcycle and stood in queue before casting his vote.
Over 43 Lakh Voters Eligible
Authorities began polling at 7 a.m. under tight security and will continue voting until 5 p.m. Voters lined up early at 4,304 polling stations across the state.
More than 562 candidates are contesting for mayor and chairman posts, while 5,562 candidates are in the race for ward councillor positions. Officials recorded unopposed elections in 38 wards across 16 municipal bodies. The state has a total of 1,087 wards.
As many as 43,33,574 voters — including 22,07,203 men, 21,26,227 women and 144 third-gender voters — are eligible to vote. Officials sealed the fate of candidates in 8,678 ballot boxes. They will begin counting votes at 8 a.m. on February 27.
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 nagar panchayats.
Although the elections are officially non-party based, political parties have openly supported candidates and campaigned extensively across municipal bodies.
