Jharkhand Urban Civic Elections: Vote Counting Begins for 48 Local Bodies
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Feb 27 (NationPress) The eagerly anticipated counting of votes for the urban civic elections in Jharkhand commenced on Friday, accompanied by stringent security measures throughout the state.
The elections encompassed 48 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), which include nine Municipal Corporations, 20 Municipal Councils, and 19 Nagar Panchayats, taking place on February 23 with a noteworthy voter turnout of approximately 62 percent.
Of over 43.33 lakh registered voters, more than 21.26 lakh women participated, demonstrating significant involvement in urban decision-making. These civic elections signify the revival of elected municipal governance after a significant hiatus since the last urban polls held in 2018.
A total of 25 counting centers have been established in district headquarters across Jharkhand. In Deoghar district, counting is being conducted at facilities in both Deoghar and Madhupur. Officials reported that the counting began at 8 a.m., with initial trends anticipated within a few hours.
The elections utilized two distinct colored ballot papers: white for ward councillor positions and pink for mayor or chairman roles.
Jharkhand comprises a total of 1,087 wards across the 48 ULBs. However, polling occurred in 1,042 wards. Notably, 41 councillors were elected unopposed, three wards remained vacant due to a lack of nominations, and polling in one ward of the Mango Municipal Corporation was canceled following a candidate's death.
In this election cycle, over 43 lakh individuals were eligible to vote. A total of 562 candidates, including 235 women, contested for mayor and chairman positions, while 5,562 candidates, comprising 2,727 women, vied for the ward councillor roles.
Although the civic polls were not conducted under official political party symbols, many candidates received support from various political organizations, making the races highly competitive and closely monitored across urban areas in the state.
Officials have deployed extensive security personnel at all counting locations to ensure a smooth and peaceful counting procedure.