Assembly elections: High turnout in Jharkhand, moderate in Maharashtra

Jharkhand & Maharashtra: The second phase of polling in Jharkhand and the single-phase Assembly Elections in Maharashtra concluded peacefully, with Jharkhand recording a voter turnout of 67.59% as of 5 PM, surpassing its 2019 record, and Maharashtra registering 58.22%. Special efforts to boost urban voter participation were met with limited success in Maharashtra’s major cities.

High voter turnout and smooth polling

Polling across all 288 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) in Maharashtra and 38 ACs in Jharkhand progressed in an orderly and peaceful manner. In both states, voters waiting in queues were allowed to cast their votes after the official closing time.

Bye-polls were also conducted in 15 ACs and one parliamentary constituency across 15 states.

Jharkhand leads with tribal and rural participation

Jharkhand’s turnout of 67.59% highlighted enthusiastic participation, particularly among tribal communities. The Election Commission of India (ECI) ensured 100% voter enrolment of 1.78 lakh members from eight Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

Special tribal-themed polling stations were set up to encourage voters, reflecting cultural and regional heritage. The turnout surpassed the 67.04% recorded in the 2019 Assembly Elections in the same constituencies.

Urban apathy in Maharashtra despite special campaigns

While Maharashtra’s overall turnout stood at 58.22%, major urban centers like Mumbai, Pune, and Thane saw lower participation. Despite extensive motivational campaigns featuring film stars and ECI icons such as cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, urban voter turnout continued to lag.

A total of 1185 polling stations were set up in high-rise buildings to improve accessibility. Basic facilities, including ramps, drinking water, and seating, were ensured at polling stations.

Free and fair elections monitored

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, kept a vigilant eye on the electoral process. Special measures ensured transparency and fairness, including:

Suspension of police personnel in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad, Kanpur, and Muzaffarnagar for arbitrary voter checks.

Deployment of 13 central observers to oversee proceedings and prevent bias against any community.

Near-perfect coordination between law enforcement agencies led to the seizure of ₹1139 crores worth of money, narcotics, and inducements since the announcement of elections on October 15, 2024. This figure is over 7.5 times the seizures recorded in 2019.

Digital platforms aid election process

The ECI’s digital tools streamlined the electoral process:

Over 74,200 campaign permissions were approved via the Suvidha 2.0 app.

The cVIGIL app received 24,992 complaints of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations, 99% of which were resolved promptly.

No major incidents reported

Polling in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas such as Gadchiroli in Maharashtra and Giridih in Jharkhand concluded without any untoward incidents. The ECI ensured tight security and accessibility for voters, including Persons with Disabilities (PwD).

Bye-polls across 15 states conclude peacefully

Bye-polls were conducted in 15 Assembly Constituencies and one Parliamentary Constituency, including high-profile regions like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Kerala. Special vigilance prevented disruptions, ensuring fairness across the board.

Provisional results and counting

As of 5 PM, polling figures are provisional and subject to updates as polling parties return from their stations. The final voter turnout figures will be released late tonight. Counting is scheduled for November 23, 2024.