On Wednesday, Jharkhand voters headed to the polls for the first phase of Assembly elections, along with bypolls in 31 Assembly constituencies and the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. These elections hold significant weight, as they will shape the political futures of several high-profile leaders, including Congress’s Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren.
In Jharkhand, 43 of the 81 Assembly seats are up for grabs in this initial phase, with the remaining seats to be decided one week later alongside Maharashtra’s 288-seat Assembly. Originally, authorities scheduled bypolls for 33 constituencies across multiple states, but two Sikkim constituencies—Soreng-Chakung and Namchi-Singhithang—saw unopposed victories for candidates from the ruling Sikkim Kranti Morcha, reducing the total number of bypolls to 31.
The Jharkhand election features a major showdown between the ruling JMM-led I.N.D.I.A. coalition and the BJP-led opposition. Seeking to return to power, the JMM-led coalition faces stiff competition from the BJP, which has fueled its campaign with a strong Hindutva stance. Meanwhile, top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, party president JP Nadda, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, have rallied extensively in Jharkhand, accusing the JMM-led coalition of enabling “Bangladeshi infiltrators” to settle in the state.
On the other hand, the I.N.D.I.A. coalition has countered with promises aimed at securing popular support. Key leaders such as Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and his wife Kalpana Soren have led the campaign, pledging a caste census, job creation, and financial incentives for women.
In the first phase, several notable races have emerged. In Seraikela, former JMM member Champai Soren, now representing the BJP, faces a closely contested race. Meanwhile, in Jamshedpur East, Congress’s Ajoy Kumar takes on Purnima Das Sahu, daughter-in-law of Odisha Governor and former Chief Minister Raghubar Das, adding an extra layer of political intrigue.
The bypoll for Wayanad stands out as one of the most anticipated contests. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is making her electoral debut here, competing against CPI’s Sathyan Mokeri and BJP’s Navya Haridas. Congress leaders express confidence in retaining the seat vacated by Rahul Gandhi, with hopes of increasing their winning margin.
Simultaneously, bypolls are underway in seven seats in Rajasthan, six in West Bengal, five in Assam, four in Bihar, three in Karnataka, two in Madhya Pradesh, and one each in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, and Meghalaya. Most of these seats fell vacant as sitting MLAs won Lok Sabha seats.
While these bypolls won’t shift governing powers, they serve as a litmus test for the Congress and other I.N.D.I.A. bloc parties. After Congress’s recent defeat in Haryana, observers view these elections as an indicator of whether the momentum gained in the Lok Sabha elections will continue.
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