Maharashtra, Jharkhand vote in NDA vs INDIA battle

In Maharashtra, a total of 4,136 candidates are contesting across 288 constituencies. While in Jharkhand, more than 500 candidates, including Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren, are contesting in 38 of the total 81 Assembly seats.

In Short

• Maharashtra has 4,136 candidates across 288 constituencies
• Over 500 candidates contesting in Jharkhand's 38 seats
• Counting of votes in both states on Saturday

Voting is underway in Maharashtra and Jharkhand for the high-stakes Assembly elections that will decide the fate of the ruling and opposition political alliances in the two states. While Jharkhand is voting in the second and final phase today, polling in Maharashtra is being conducted in a single phase.

Voting in both the states began at 7 am. It will end at 6 pm in Maharashtra and 5 pm in Jharkhand, barring 31 booths where it will conclude at 4 pm.

As of 9 am, Maharashtra witnessed a 6.61 per cent voter turnout, while Jharkhand registered 12.71 per cent.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to voters, especially women and young people, in both states to exercise their franchise.

In Maharashtra, a total of 4,136 candidates are contesting across 288 constituencies. As part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP is fighting in 149 seats, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in 81, and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 59.

In the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, the Congress has fielded 101 candidates, the Uddhav Thackery-led Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar) 86.

In Jharkhand, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress-Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) coalition is seeking to retain power, while the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is trying to seize control.

At least 528 candidates, including Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren, are contesting in 38 of the total 81 Assembly seats. The BJP has fielded candidates in 68 seats while allies AJSU Party in 10, JD(U) in two and Lok Janshakti (Ram Vilas) in one.

Out of the Opposition INDIA bloc parties, JMM has fielded candidates in 43 seats, Congress 30, RJD 6 and CPI(ML) 4.

Counting of votes in both the states will take place on Saturday.

Get the latest updates here on voting in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

MAHAYUTI VS MVA IN MAHARASHTRA

The elections in Maharashtra is almost a direct contest between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the Opposition MVA. In the days leading to the polls, the state witnessed campaigning by top leaders, including PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, among others.

The Mahayuti is banking on its popular schemes like Majhi Ladki Bahin for women to help it retain power. But the use of slogans by alliance leaders like "Batenge toh katenge" and "Ek hai toh safe hai" has prompted opposition parties to accuse the Mahayuti of polarising voters.

Meanwhile, the MVA has focused on issues like caste-based census, social justice, and protecting the Constitution. It had aimed to appeal to voters who felt neglected by the ruling Eknath Shinde government.

Besides the big players, smaller parties, including the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the AIMIM, are also contesting the polls. The BSP has fielded 237 candidates and AIMIM 17.

This time, the number of candidates has increased by 28 per cent in comparison to the 2019 Assembly polls. There are a total of 4,136 candidates, up from 3,239 in 2019.

Of the 4,136 candidates, 2,086 are independents. Rebels are also contesting in over 150 constituencies.

A total of 1,00,186 polling booths have been set up across the state.

JMM-CONGRESS-RJD vs BJP-LED NDA IN JHARKHAND

The second and final phase in Jharkhand will seal the electoral fate of incumbent Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who is out on bail, amid numerous attacks by the NDA accusing the JMM-led coalition over alleged infiltration from Bangladesh and corruption.

While campaigning, top BJP leaders, including PM Modi, Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP national president JP Nadda, have all accused Hemant Soren of corruption and looting the state and its people.

The issue of Champai Soren's removal as Chief Minister shortly after Hemant Soren was released on bail in June, also became a major point of focus for the NDA leaders.

Champai Soren, who later joined the BJP, contested in the first phase of polling on November 13 from Sareikela. He has won the Assembly seat since 2005.

Meanwhile, INDIA bloc leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have promised welfare schemes and accused the Centre of "unleashing" probe agencies against the rival parties.

Besides Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana, the other prominent leaders in today's phase include state BJP president and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, Assembly Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto (JMM), Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri (BJP) and BJP ally AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto.

Of the 38 seats where voting is taking place today, 18 are in the Santhal Pargana region comprising six districts -- Godda, Deoghar, Dumka, Jamtara, Sahibganj and Pakur. The remaining 18 seats are in the North Chotanagpur division and two in South Chotanagpur.

There are 14,218 polling stations, and 1.23 crore voters, including 60.79 lakh women and 147 third-gender electors, will exercise their franchise.

In the last 2019 Assembly polls, the JMM won 30 seats and the BJP secured 25, down from 37 in 2014. The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance won a comfortable majority with 47 seats.

(Inputs from PTI)