Jharkhand recorded 64.86 per cent voter turnout in the first phase of polls, better than the 2019 Assembly polls figure of 63.9 per cent, the Election Commission (EC) claimed on Wednesday evening.

The EC, in a press release, said the phase-1 polling in Jharkhand concluded peacefully.

“Polling was marked by a festive mood and enthusiastic participation across all districts, with large tribal populations, including areas affected by Left Wing Extremism. Voters from diverse groups including first-time voters, the elderly, women, PwD (disabled) and tribals among others were seen exercising their franchise at polling stations across the 15 districts that went to polls today, undeterred by threats and boycott calls,” the release said.

The results will decide the fate of 683 candidates vying for 43 legislative seats, including 17 general seats, 20 reserved for STs and six for SCs.

The EC release claimed that in the Budha Pahad area of the Garhwa district — once considered a stronghold of extremists — long queues and peaceful polling at Hesatu polling station “signalled the deep penetration of democratic ethos.”

For the first time, this polling station was set up in the Budha Pahad area for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, allowing residents to vote intheir villages.

“In the Manoharpur and Jaganathpur assembly constituencies of West Singhbhum district, voters chose to cast their vote despite boycott posters and threat calls by extremists. At polling stations in Sonapi in the Jagannathpur constituency and Rabangada in the Manoharpur constituency, security forces thwarted attempts to prevent voters from voting through boycott posters and blockades on the way,” the EC release further claimed.

Most of the 43 seats which went to polls in the first phase are witnessing a straight contest between the ruling JMM-Congress-RJD-CPI-ML coalition and the BJP-led NDA.

Out of the total 43 seats, JMM has fielded its candidates on 23 seats and Congress on 17 seats while RJD has fielded candidates on a total of five seats, out of which two are against alliance partner Congress claiming to be “friendly contest”.

In the NDA, BJP has declared candidates on 36 out of 43 seats while the AJSU has fielded candidates on four seats, the JDU on two seats and Chirag Paswan’s LJP (R) on one seat.

The prominent seats in the first phase of Jharkhand elections include Seraikela, Ranchi, Jamshedpur West, Jagannathpur and Jamshedpur East.

Former chief minister Champai Soren who has been representing Seraikela for five terms on a JMM ticket is contesting this time on a BJP ticket and is facing former BJP leader Ganesh Mahali who is contesting on a JMM ticket. Champai Soren joined the BJP in August before the Jharkhand elections

In the Jamshedpur West seat, Congress leader and health minister Banna Gupta is facing the former BJP leader and JDU candidate Saryu Roy. Saryu Roy defeated the then chief minister Raghubar Das in the 2019 elections from Jamshedpur East seat.

In Jamshedpur East, former Jamshedpur MP and former IPS Ajoy Kumar is pitted against former chief minister and Odisha’s Governor Raghubar Das’ daughter-in-law and BJP candidate Purnima Das.

In Jagannathpur, a coal scam-tainted former chief minister Madhu Koda’s wife and BJP candidate Geeta Koda is pitted against Congress leader Sona Ram Sinku.

In Ranchi, senior BJP leader and MLA since 1996, C.P. Singh is pitted against the JMM’s Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji.

The second phase of voting is on November 20 for the remaining 38 seats for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly. The counting is scheduled for November 23.