Campaigning will end tomorrow for the first phase of voting in Jharkhand, where 43 assembly constituencies will go to polls on November 13. High-profile seats in this phase include Seraikella, Ranchi, Jamshedpur West, Jaganathpur and Jamshedpur East.

Key contests include former Chief Minister and BJP candidate Champai Soren’s candidacy from Seraikella. Known for his strong influence among tribal voters, Soren joined the BJP earlier this year after expressing his dissatisfaction with Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

In Ranchi, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) fielded Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji.

Meanwhile, Congress Health Minister Banna Gupta is in a competitive race in West Jamshedpur against Janata Dal (United) leader Saryu Roy, who defeated then Chief Minister Raghubar Das in the 2019 elections.

Jamshedpur East will witness the face-off between Congress candidate Ajoy Kumar and BJP’s Purnima Das Sahu. In Jaganathpur, BJP’s Geeta Koda, wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda, is all set to challenge Congress leader Sona Ram Sinku.

List of constituencies in Jharkhand Phase 1

1.Kodarma
2. Barkatha
3. Barhi
4.Barkagaon
5. Hazaribagh
6. Simaria (SC)
7. Chatra (SC)
8. Baharagora
9. Ghatsila (ST)
10.Potka (ST)
11.Jugsalai (SC)
12. Jamshedpur East
13. Jamshedpur West
14. Ichagarh
15. Seraikella (ST)
16. Chaibasa (ST)
17. Majhgaon (ST)
18.Jaganathpur (ST)
19.Manoharpur (ST)
20. Chakradharpur (ST)
21. Harsavan (ST)
22. Tamar (ST)
23. Torpa (ST)
24. Khunti (ST)
25. Farm
26. Hatia
27. Kanke (SC)
28.Mandar (ST)
29. Sisai (ST)
30. Gumla (ST)
31. Bishunpur (ST)
32. Simdega (ST)
33.Kolebira (ST)
34.Lohardaga (ST)
35.Manika (ST)
36. Latehar (SC)
37. Panky
38. Daltonganj
39. Bishrampur
40. Chhatarpur (SC)
41. Hussainabad
42. Garhva
43.Bhawanathpur

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a grand roadshow in Ranchi, starting from OTC Ground and ending at New Market Chowk. He also addressed rallies in Bokaro and Gumla and criticized the Congress for allegedly trying to create division among Jharkhand’s backward communities for political gain. Calling on the Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and Adivasi communities to unite, Modi said, “If they remain united, they will remain safe.”

For the upcoming elections, the BJP is contesting on 68 seats, while its allies All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) are contesting on 10, Janata Dal (United) on 2 and Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) on 1. LJP fielded a candidate. Voting will be held in Chatra on November 13.