Campaign managers of senior leaders contesting from Ranchi and Khunti are worried about voter turnout on May 6 as cyclone Fani, that made landfall in Odisha on Friday, is likely to lead to inclement weather over the weekend.

“Rural voters are our strength especially with farmers’ distress and the prevailing anti-government sentiments among tribals. We are keeping our fingers crossed and hope that village property, especially thatched huts, aren’t damaged and electricity poles are not uprooted,” said an aide of Ranchi Congress candidate Subodh Kant Sahay.

In Khunti, candidates are keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that the effects of the cyclone that wreaked havoc in Puri and Bhubaneswar in neighbouring Odisha is minimal in the region.

“We are praying that the cyclone has minimum impact in rural areas and people turn up to vote in large numbers,” said BJP’s Khunti nominee Arjun Munda.

According to Met forecasts, Ranchi and Khunti, which are in central Jharkhand, are likely to receive moderate rainfall, and experience strong winds with speed ranging between 40kmph and 50kmph over the weekend due to the impact of the cyclone.

But Ranchi’s Congress candidate was calm. “I am praying that cyclone Fani does not have much of an impact on Jharkhand weather. Ranchi is known as Bholenath Nagri and I am confident that Bholenath will save the city and its rural areas from damage,” said Sahay, a three-time MP from the state capital.

BJP candidate Sanjay Seth at Upper Bazaar. Picture by Manob Chowdhary

There are six Assembly segments under Ranchi parliamentary constituency, namely, Silli, Khijri, Ichagarh, Kanke, Ranchi and Hatia. Of these Silli, Khijri and Ichagarh, dominated by rural areas, are traditional Congress strongholds.

BJP candidate Sanjay Seth did not appear flustered. “I am praying there is not much damage to property in rural areas. I am confident people will turn up in large numbers to vote and play their role in nation building,” said the former Khadi board chairman.

Ranchi saw a turnout of 63.68 per cent in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. This time, the constituency is headed for a direct contest between Seth and Sahay with BJP rebel and sitting MP Ramtahal Choudhary, who is contesting as an Independent, trying to play spoilsport.

In Khunti, Congress candidate Kalicharan Munda did not answer calls despite repeated attempts. However, Youth Congress leader in-charge of his campaign Ved Prakash claimed that people would turn up in large numbers to vote.

“We are praying that there is not much damage. In fact, we are keeping a constant watch on the weather forecast as campaigning will end on Saturday afternoon. We have our strengths in rural areas and hope voters from there will turn up in large numbers,” he added.

Khunti is also witnessing a direct fight between the two Mundas of the BJP and Congress. Most of its Assembly segments are dominated by rural areas like Khunti, Kharsawan, Tamar, Torpa, Kolebira and Simdega.

Khunti witnessed a turnout of 66.28 per cent in the 2014 elections.