Jharkhand Phase 1 Election Begins; Priyanka Gandhi's Wayanad Test Amid By-Elections Across India - Read Now
The first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly Election 2024 has begun, with voting taking place in 43 of the state's 81 constituencies. As a battle rages on between the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and its allies against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other opposition parties, the elections are setting a very crucial tone for the future of the state's politics. Meanwhile, a high-profile by-election is in Kerala's Wayanad where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra goes through her political test. Here is the top highlight of today's voting landscape:
1. First phase of voting in Jharkhand
In Jharkhand, the ruling JMM-led coalition is seeking re-election with a very strong line-up of 23 candidates, out of whom Congress is fielding 17 and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) five. The BJP has fielded 36 candidates while the Janata Dal United (JDU) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have fielded two and seven, respectively.
Welfare schemes like Maiyan Samman Yojana are the sole hopes of JMM which is aspiring for its next term. For the NDA camp, it has been the biggest controversial issues- corruption and infiltration issues against the alliance government. The BJP has promised stringent action against infiltration, implementation of Uniform Civil Code (UCC), and also has promised economic benefits with giving ₹2,100 to women every month and five lakh jobs for the youth.
2. Critical Contestants in the Fray
Integral contestants are there in the fray today at the time of polls. These include former chief minister Champai Soren, his son Babulal Soren, Meera Munda (wife of former chief minister Arjun Munda), Geeta Koda (wife of ex-CM Madhu Koda), and Purnima Sahu (daughter-in-law of ex-CM Raghuvar Das). It all points towards high stakes for this round of elections also.
3. BJP's High-Tension Campaign in Jharkhand
The BJP witnessed a high-energy campaign across Jharkhand ahead of the polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP President JP Nadda, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma led the rallies and appeals to the local voters. In this, the BJP has been working hard on its promises and economic opportunities, tightening up infiltration measures, and a streamlined governance approach.
4. Priyanka Gandhi's Test in Wayanad
Between these, there is much-hyped focus on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, whose by-election is also an important election that is slated to take place in Kerala's constituency of Wayanad. It was earlier the Lok Sabha constituency of Rahul Gandhi, her brother and Congress leader. This election assumes importance for Congress as well because the win can influence its broad strengthening in Kerala and also reflect nationally. The election result is going to further color Congress party tactics and inspire the Congress workers on the eve of general elections in 2024.
5. Assembly Constituencies Across India
Apart from Jharkhand, the votes in 31 assembly constituencies of 10 states have also been polled. Significant as this is because the seats taken into consideration are from Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka. The seats have Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, so the diversity of voters yet again to be highlighted.
Sikkim has already announced two unopposed winners from the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha in the declaration on 30th October, adding to the very diverse political landscape of India.
6. Promises from Key Political Players
Today, the BJP presents the people with an ambitious agenda for Jharkhand-from providing enough employment for all to enabling women's financial independence to more stringent policies on infiltration. The JMM-led alliance expects to be carried on the welfare measures that promote rural development, better health, and social security.
7. Result of 2019 Elections and Background
The JMM succeeded in getting 30 seats in the elections held for the Jharkhand assembly in 2019 while the BJP retained 25. Such an alliance as the JMM-Congress-RJD triumphantly won a majority with a total of 47 seats, and one it so dearly wishes to repeat this year.
8. Next Steps and Upcoming Phases
Following this day's first phase, the vote will be conducted on the second phase of Jharkhand on November 20. All votes are to be counted on November 23. There will be developments in the state's political future and bigger national trends leading up to the approaching 2024 general elections.
