A voter turnout of 64.86 per cent was recorded in the 43 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand where polling was held in the first phase on Wednesday. Lohardaga district topped the list with 73.21 per cent polling while Hazaribag district recorded the lowest at 59.

Former CM Champai Soren, contesting on a BJP ticket in Seraikela, faces a challenge from former JMM's Ganesh Mahli.

Health Minister Banna Gupta, Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji, Geeta Koda, wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda, and Purnima Das, the daughter-in-law of former Chief Minister Raghubar Das, are the other key candidates in fray.

Voting for the first of the two-phase Jharkhand Assembly elections is set to take place on Wednesday, with 1.37 crore out of the total 2,60 eligible voters heading to the polls in 43 constituencies ac

The first phase of voting for the Jharkhand Assembly elections has started today, covering 43 constituencies. There are 15,344 polling booths across the state, and 683 candidates are competing, including former Chief Minister Champai Soren and six cabinet ministers from Hemant Soren’s government.

Bypolls will be held today in 31 assembly seats across 10 states and Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, from where Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is making her electoral debut.