First phase: 13 constituencies in Jharkhand go to polls tomorrow

RANCHI: Campaigning for the first phase of Jharkhand assembly elections ended on Thursday. Ruling BJP is expected to face a strong challenge from the opposition alliance of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the five-phase polling starting with 13 constituencies across six districts.

Seats for which voting will take place on Saturday are Chatra, Gumla, Bishunpur, Lohardaga, Manika, Latehar, Panki, Daltonganj, Bishrampur, Chhatarour, Hussainabad, Garhwa and Bhawanathpur. The opposition alliance has fielded joint candidates in all these constituencies with Congress contesting six seats, JMM four, and RJD three. BJP is trying its luck in 12 constituencies and is supporting Vinod Kumar Singh in Hussainabad.

Sudesh Mahto-headed All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), which was an ally of BJP in the last assembly polls, has fielded its candidates in Lohardaga, which is its sitting seat, Hussainabad, and Chhatarpur. Shivpujan Mehta, who won from Hussainabad as a BSP nominee in the 2014 polls, is trying to defend his seat on AJSU ticket. Former chief minister Babu Lal Marandi’s Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (JVM) is contesting the elections on its own.

JMM is leading the opposition Mahagathbandhan with 43 seats while Congress is contesting in 31 constituencies and RJD seven. Congress’ Jharkhand unit president Rameshwar Oraon is trying to enter the state assembly from Lohardaga. The party has fielded its candidates in Paki, Bishrampur, Bhavnathpur, Manika and Daltonganj as well. Congress’ performance in the first phase will largely depend on the capability of its allies to transfer their votes to Congress candidates, political observers said.

Former chief minister and JMM working president Hemant Soren has spent significant time campaigning for the first phase of polls. JMM has fielded its candidates in Gumla, Latehar, Garhwa and Bishunpur. RJD is contesting from Chatra, Chhatarpur and Hussainabad in the first phase. Before the formation of Jharkhand in 2000, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD had enjoyed a good support base in this region in undivided Bihar.

For BJP the main campaigners in the first phase included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel campaigned for the alliance candidates on Wednesday.