As the second phase of the Jharkhand assembly elections took place, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is in charge of BJP's election campaign, made strong accusations against the ruling JMM-led alliance.
He claimed that the alliance had deceived the people of Jharkhand by failing to deliver on key promises, including jobs, security for women, and addressing the issue of illegal immigration. Chouhan urged the voters to support the BJP-led NDA alliance, promising a brighter future for the state.
In his statement, Chouhan expressed that the ruling government had neglected the basic needs of the people. He pointed out that unemployment had risen, women’s safety had been compromised, and the state's resources were being taken over by illegal immigrants.
He argued that these issues had created widespread frustration among the people, who were now turning to the NDA for change. According to Chouhan, the BJP and NDA would bring a new era of prosperity, development, and safety, free from the influence of infiltrators.
The BJP leader's remarks also included a call for a "prosperous, developed, safe, and infiltrator-free Jharkhand," suggesting that the current government had failed to address these critical concerns.
He claimed that the NDA government would change the state’s political landscape and the lives of its people for the better. As voting continued in the second phase, Chouhan emphasised the anger among the people, stating that they were voting to defeat what he described as a "corrupt, anti-people government."
While Chouhan's remarks were aimed at rallying support for the NDA, they were met with a different perspective from the ruling side. Kalpana Soren, the wife of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and a candidate from the Gandey Assembly seat, expressed confidence in her alliance's victory.
Kalpana stated that the people of Jharkhand had chosen the path of development and were voting in favour of the Mahagathbandhan. She emphasised that her hard work for the people of Gandey would result in her victory.
She also expressed gratitude towards the people of Gandey for their unwavering support, adding that she hoped to continue her work for the community in the coming years.
Kalpana also defended her alliance, criticising the BJP for focusing more on division than on development. She highlighted the respect and dignity that women in Jharkhand had received under the leadership of Hemant Soren, contrasting it with the BJP's divisive rhetoric.
She claimed that the BJP’s agenda was based on creating division, while the Mahagathbandhan focused on unity and progress. According to her, the BJP’s tactics would not succeed, and the people of Jharkhand would vote for a government that truly served their interests.
The second phase of voting recorded a decent turnout, with approximately 67.59% of eligible voters casting their ballots by 5 pm. This phase covered 38 constituencies across 12 districts of Jharkhand.
The highest voter turnout was observed in Jamtara, where 76.16% of voters participated, while the lowest was recorded in Bokaro at 60.97%. The state capital, Ranchi, saw a turnout of 72.01% by the end of the day.
As the results are awaited, both the Mahagathbandhan and the NDA are hopeful of securing a majority in the assembly. The Mahagathbandhan, which includes the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), is working hard to retain its power in the state.
On the other hand, the NDA, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), is determined to break the JMM-led alliance's hold on the state.
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