Jharkhand wakes to the rhythm of democracy with urban body elections kicking off across 48 civic entities. From bustling Ranchi to quieter towns, 43+ lakh voters seal fates of 6100 aspirants using traditional ballot papers between 7 AM and 5 PM.
Governance at street level hangs in balance: 9 nagar nigams, 20 parishads, 19 panchayats. Pink ballots crown mayors/chairs; white ones anoint councilors – all party-less. 4307 booths, fortified against mischief with CCTV at hotspots and all-woman squads.
After a prolonged electoral drought since 2018, voter pulse races. Dawn patrols report heavy footfall, outpacing prior averages like Ranchi’s 49%, soaring to 74% in Barharwa. Higher numbers seem assured.
Barrier-free voting: Ditch the EPIC for passport, license, MGNREGA card – just verify rolls. Elders, disabled get priority with aids aplenty.
Spotlight on Ranchi: 909 stations host 10L voters for ST-reserved mayor and 53 wards. Seamless security blueprint eyes incident-free day. As ballots drop, anticipation builds for February 27 verdict, heralding fresh local leadership.