MunicipalElections – High Voter Turnout Marks Jharkhand Civic Polls
MunicipalElections – Voting unfolded across 48 urban local bodies in Jharkhand on Monday, with senior leaders stepping out early to cast their ballots and urging residents to take part in shaping local governance. From Ranchi to Deoghar and Hazaribagh, polling stations witnessed steady queues as citizens participated in the municipal elections that will determine the leadership of city administrations across the state.
Senior Leaders Cast Votes, Stress Civic Duty
Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar exercised his franchise at a polling booth set up on the Administrative Training Institute campus in Ranchi. After casting his vote, he underlined the importance of municipal elections in strengthening grassroots development. He said the progress of towns and cities depends largely on capable local representatives and encouraged voters to choose candidates committed to public welfare. While voters are free to make their own choices, he added, participating in the democratic process remains a fundamental responsibility.
In the Deoghar Municipal Corporation area, Godda Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey voted along with his family. He later shared a message on social media encouraging people to use their democratic rights. Dubey also voiced reservations about the continued use of ballot papers, suggesting that reliance on traditional methods in a digital era may slow administrative efficiency. At the same time, he expressed optimism about the prospects of candidates backed by his party.
Hazaribagh MP Manish Jaiswal also cast his vote and described the election as a crucial moment for ensuring cleaner, more transparent and development-oriented urban administration. In a brief appeal to residents, he encouraged them to prioritise voting before attending to other engagements.
Ministers Highlight Youth Participation
State ministers were also seen at polling stations across different districts. Sudivya Kumar voted in Giridih, while Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperation Minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey cast her ballot at Sant Ajay Middle School in Dahisot Banhora. Both leaders emphasised that voting is not only a constitutional right but also a civic duty. They particularly appealed to young voters to come forward and participate actively in deciding the future of their towns and cities. Through public messages, they called for educated and experienced leadership in municipal bodies.
Allegations of Mismanagement Surface
Amid the largely orderly polling process, Union Minister of State for Defence and Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth raised concerns about the conduct of the elections. After voting, he alleged serious irregularities, claiming that the use of a single ballot box for both mayoral and ward councillor posts could lead to confusion. He described the arrangement as questionable and called for greater transparency. Seth arrived at the polling station on a motorcycle and waited in line with other voters before casting his ballot.
Extensive Security and Statewide Arrangements
Polling began at 7 a.m. under tight security across 4,304 booths. Long queues were visible from early morning, reflecting strong voter interest. The process is scheduled to continue until 5 p.m.
More than 562 candidates are contesting for the posts of mayor and chairperson, while 5,562 aspirants are competing for ward councillor positions. In 38 wards spread across 16 municipal bodies, candidates for ward councillor have already been elected unopposed. Altogether, the state’s 48 urban local bodies comprise 1,087 wards.
A total of 8,678 ballot boxes have been deployed to secure the votes. Counting is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. on February 27, when the outcome of the closely watched civic polls will become clear.
Voter Demographics and Urban Coverage
According to official figures, 43,33,574 voters are eligible to participate in the elections. This includes 22,07,203 male voters, 21,26,227 female voters and 144 voters from the third-gender category. Although the polls are formally conducted on a non-party basis, political parties have extended support to various candidates and actively campaigned during the run-up to voting.
The elections cover nine municipal corporations — Ranchi, Dhanbad, Deoghar, Adityapur, Chas, Medininagar, Hazaribagh, Giridih and Mango — in addition to 20 municipal councils and 19 nagar panchayats. The results are expected to play a key role in shaping urban development priorities and administrative direction across Jharkhand’s growing towns and cities.