Ranchi: Former team India cricket captain and Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024’s SVEEP Icon Mahendra Singh Dhoni Mahendra Singh Dhoni, serving as the brand ambassador, participated in the Jharkhand Assembly elections by casting his vote in Ranchi on Wednesday.
The cricket icon attracted fans to the polling booth, emphasizing the importance of voting. Pictures of his participation have been released, though he remained silent to the press. He was seen with his family on this occasion.
Dhoni arrived at JVM Shyamali in Doranda, Ranchi, along with his wife, Sakshi Dhoni, and cast his ballot at Booth No. 374. As soon as news spread of Dhoni’s presence, an enthusiastic crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of him. People were eager to take selfies and capture the moment, although Dhoni voted under tight security. Many of the polling officials also took the opportunity to take photos with him.
The first phase of voting for the Jharkhand Assembly elections commenced early on Wednesday across 43 constituencies in 15 districts. Voting began at 7 a.m. and continued until 5 p.m. In this phase, a total of 13.7 million voters were eligible to participate and decide the fate of 683 candidates, including 73 women and one transgender candidate.
The turnout reflected active public engagement, with voters lining up at polling stations to exercise their democratic right. The Election Commission appointed Dhoni as the SVEEP Icon (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) to encourage more people to vote, a role he fulfilled with his presence at the polling booth.
The second phase of voting in Jharkhand is scheduled for November 20, with the vote counting and results set to be announced on November 23. The elections are being held amidst high expectations for a robust voter turnout, especially with notable figures like Dhoni encouraging citizens to participate.
