Jharkhand Elections In Just 2 Phases: Poll Body Chief Rajiv Kumar Reveals The Real Reason Behind It – News18

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will hold the Assembly polls in Jharkhand in two phases from five in 2014 and 2019. A similar picture was seen in Jammu and Kashmir that went from polls in three phases from five in 2014 and seven in 2008.

Jharkhand will vote for 43 seats on November 13 and 38 seats on November 20. The counting of votes will be done on November 23.

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Jharkhand is a left-wing extremism impacted area, however, with the security situation improved over the years, the need for multiple phases has dropped.

Speaking to the media after announcing the dates of polls, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said there were factors in the state that impacted the schedule.

“Do you remember how many phases there were last time? Now you are asking about two also. There are factors in Jharkhand that are about naxal areas. Therefore the state has elections in two phases,” Kumar said.

Across the country, the situation of law and order has improved.

Unlike the last elections, where the erstwhile state used to have elections in five (in 2014) to seven (in 2008) phases, J&K polls were completed in just less than 15 days and three phases.

The CEC also praised the elections in Jammu and Kashmir that did not witness any violence in the polls.

The newly formed UT had its first election last month and the process completed on October 8 with the counting of votes.

The CEC, while speaking about the recently concluded J&K polls, said there were no repolls or violence in the state and nowhere guns or lathis were used. Recalling when they were asked about the threats in Jammu and Kashmir, including the rise in the terror incidents, he said they promised safe elections and delivered it too.

“We made our will and intent very clear while announcing the polls and successfully achieved them… The terror attacks in J&K were on the rise and people were questioning if the ECI would even hold elections in the UT or not. We promised on August 16, while announcing the dates, that the festival of democracy will see the defeat of ill intentions. We all saw that in Jammu and Kashmir. The elections were inducement free,” Kumar said. He went on to say that the voters in J&K made the celebration of democracy historic and stepped out to vote in large numbers back to back in the Lok Sabha and assembly polls.

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Kumar said that poll after poll India is witnessing a drop in violence, rise in public participation and record seizures that gives a clear message that the voters have full believe in the election process. From the last two elections, 2019 and 2024, even the Lok Sabha polls are held in fewer phases. From nine in 2014 to seven each in 2019 and 2024.

Completing the elections faster is an important aspect for democracy as from the announcement of the polls till the time the counting is done, all new projects, schemes and planning in the region is impacted. Only the ongoing work can continue while the model code of conduct puts a hold on everything new.