The Jharkhand Assembly entered its second and final phase of polling today, November 20, with voters across 38 constituencies deciding their representatives. The first phase, covering 43 seats, was held on November 13. Political parties, including the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led INDIA bloc and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), are making a final push to reach voters through door-to-door canvassing and social media campaigns.

Final push for votes

Despite the official conclusion of election campaigns on Monday, candidates and party workers have continued door-to-door visits, which are permitted under Election Commission guidelines with up to five political workers. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BJP’s election in-charge for Jharkhand, appealed to voters through a video posted on X, urging them to support the saffron camp in Wednesday’s polls.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren also turned to X to seek support for the JMM-led alliance. “I am seeking your support for my work and future vision plan. Look at every scheme of my government—there is no caste-based restriction in it,” Soren wrote, highlighting his administration’s achievements and pledging new initiatives if re-elected.

Kalpana Soren, JMM candidate and wife of the chief minister, criticised the BJP in her appeal on X. “We will choose love and development, not hatred and conspiracy. They will not be able to break our courage by putting Hemant ji in jail,” she said, referencing her husband’s recent legal troubles.

Key candidates and constituencies

Key candidates contesting in the constituencies going to the polls on November 20 include Hemant Soren from JMM in Barhait, Babulal Marandi from BJP in Dhanwar, and Rabindra Nath Mahato from JMM in Nala. Other prominent contenders are Bebi Devi from JMM in Dumri, Hafizul Ansari from JMM in Madhupur, and Deepika Pandey from Congress in Mahagama.

Dr. Irfan Ansari (Congress) and Sita Soren (JMM) will compete in Jamtara, while Badal Patralekh (Congress) is standing in Jarmundi. Randhir Singh from BJP is contesting in Sarath, with Pradeep Yadav from Congress in Poreyahat. Stephen Marandi from JMM will vie for the Maheshpur seat, while Basant Soren of JMM is running in Dumka. Lois Marandi from BJP is contesting in Jama, and Hemlal Murmu from JMM is standing for Littipara.

Mathura Mahato from JMM is in the fray in Tundi, with Amar Bauri from BJP contesting in Chandankiyari. Kalpana Soren, wife of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, is contesting Gande as a JMM candidate. Sudesh Mahto, Chief of AJSU, is vying for Silli, and Lobin Hembrom from JMM is contesting in Borio. Other significant contests include Vinod Singh from CPI-ML in Bagodar and Anup Singh from Congress in Bermo.

A total of 528 candidates are in the fray for the 38 seats in this phase, including 55 women and one third-gender candidate. Over 1.23 crore voters, including 60.79 lakh women, are eligible to cast their votes. More than 14,000 polling stations have been established across rural and urban areas to ensure smooth conduct of the elections.

The results for all 81 constituencies will be declared on November 23, alongside those for the Maharashtra Assembly elections.