Vote counting for Jharkhand’s urban civic polls is currently ongoing with tight security measures in place. The elections for 48 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), including nine Municipal Corporations, 20 Municipal Councils, and 19 Nagar Panchayats, took place on February 23, with a notable voter turnout of approximately 62 percent. Over 21.26 lakh women out of more than 43.33 lakh registered voters participated, indicating significant engagement in urban governance.
Twenty-five counting centers have been established at district headquarters throughout Jharkhand, with Deoghar and Madhupur hosting the counting in Deoghar district. The counting process began at 8 a.m., and initial results are anticipated within a few hours. The elections employed two types of colored ballot papers – white for ward councillors and pink for mayor or chairman positions.
Jharkhand comprises a total of 1,087 wards across the 48 ULBs, with polling conducted in 1,042 wards. While 41 councillors were elected unopposed, three wards remained vacant due to lack of nominations, and polling in one Mango Municipal Corporation ward was canceled following a candidate’s demise. More than 43 lakh individuals were eligible to vote in these elections, with 562 candidates vying for mayor and chairman roles, including 235 women, and 5,562 candidates, including 2,727 women, competing for ward councillor positions.
Despite not being contested on official party symbols, the civic polls saw candidates supported by various political groups, adding interest to the races in urban areas across the state. Security personnel have been heavily deployed at all counting locations to ensure a smooth and peaceful counting process.
