Ranchi. The process of assembly elections has started in Jharkhand. Notification was issued on Friday, October 18 for the first phase of voting to be held on November 13 and with it the process of nomination has also started. However, candidates have not been announced yet by NDA or ‘India’ block. Meanwhile, seat distribution was announced among the constituent parties of NDA on Friday. The seat distribution was announced in a press conference in Ranchi in the presence of party’s election in-charge Shivraj Singh Chauhan, co-in-charge Himanta Biswa Sarma and state president Babulal Marandi.
According to seat distribution, BJP will contest on 68 out of 81 seats in the state assembly. Out of the remaining 13 seats, AJSU will contest on 10 seats, Janata Dal U on two seats and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) on one seat. The names of BJP candidates were to be announced even before the announcement of seat sharing. Election co-in-charge Himanta Biswa Sarma had recently said that the names of the candidates have been finalized and 98 percent of the names will be announced within 48 hours of the announcement of the elections. But BJP could not announce the candidates till 72 hours i.e. three days after the Central Election Committee meeting was held and the elections were announced.
It is noteworthy that on Tuesday, the Election Commission had announced the election schedule in Maharashtra and Jharkhand and on the same day in the evening, a meeting of BJP’s Central Election Committee was held regarding Jharkhand, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi also participated. However, according to the seat distribution in NDA, Sudesh Mahato’s party AJSU will contest elections on Silli, Ramgarh, Gomia, Ichagarh, Mandu, Jugsalai, Dumri, Pakur, Lohardaga and Manoharpur seats. Nitish Kumar’s party JDU has been given Jamshedpur West and Tamar seats. Chirag Paswan’s party has got Chatra seat.
According to the program announced by the Election Commission, Jharkhand Assembly elections will be held in two phases. The first phase of voting will take place on November 13. For this, notification was issued on Friday, October 18 and the process of nomination started. Notification for the second phase will be issued on October 22. Voting for the second phase will take place on November 20. The results will be announced on 23 November. Meanwhile, there is news that seat sharing has also been decided between JMM, Congress and RJD. According to reports, JMM will contest on 43 seats and Congress on 29 seats. Five seats will be left for RJD and four for the Left Front.