Sehore (Madhya Pradesh) [India]: After casting his vote in Budhni by-polls, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan exuded confidence in the party’s victory in both Jharkhand polls and Budhni bypolls.
The Union Minister urged people to cast their vote in large numbers saying that it is the ultimate duty in a democracy.
“Voting is the ultimate duty in a democracy, I request everyone to definitely vote. This area, this family belongs to BJP, people have faith in the BJP, PM Modi. People will vote for BJP and Ramakant Bhargava will win here with record votes,” Chouhan said.
Budhni assembly seat is the bastion of senior BJP leader and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and it got vacant after he was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) from Vidisha constituency in the recently concluded general election 2024.
BJP candidate Ramakant Bhargava is contesting from Budhni while Congress has fielded Rajkumar Patel.
The first phase of assembly elections is also underway in Jharkhand, and being BJP’s election in-charge for Jharkhand, Chouhan while exuding confidence, said that the party will win with more than two-thirds majority.
He said, “The first phase of polling is underway in Jharkhand, people have come out to vote for BJP, NDA. JMM-Congress alliance will lose badly; we will win with more than two-thirds majority… We don’t believe in division; we believe in unity. Other parties, INDI alliance are working to divide. BJP works to unite.”
A voter turnout of 13.04 per cent was recorded till 9 am in the first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly Elections, as per the Election Commission of India.
Voting for the first phase of the Jharkhand assembly elections began on Wednesday morning, with voting taking place in 43 out of the state’s 81 seats.
As per the data shared by the ECI, as of 9 am, Simdega district is leading with 15.09 per cent turnout, followed by Lohardaga and Koderma with 14.97 per cent. The voter turnout for Seraikella-Kharsawan is 14.62 per cent, Ramgarh and Khunti is 14.37 per cent, Gumla is 13.93 per cent, West Singhbum and Latehar is 13.80 per cent, Garhwa is 13.41 per cent, Hazaribagh is 13.20 per cent.
According to the ECI, the state’s capital city Ranchi recorded a turnout of 12.06 per cent, while the district of Palamu recorded 11.84 per cent. The lowest voter turnout of 11.25 per cent was recorded in East Singhbhum district.
The BJP-led NDA is aiming to unseat the JMM-led coalition, with key candidates such as former Chief Minister Champai Soren and Congress leader Ajoy Kumar in the fray.
The counting of the votes is scheduled for November 23.