The results of the closely watched Jharkhand Assembly elections are being announced today, November 23, following two phases of voting on November 13 and 20 across 81 seats.
The contest is primarily between the ruling INDIA bloc, led by Hemant Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Counting of votes began at 8 AM, and by afternoon, the fate of the next government in Jharkhand is expected to be clear. Both alliances carried out extensive and high-profile campaigns, making this election a significant political event in the state.
The JMM-led alliance was all set to retain power in Jharkhand as it was leading in at least 50 seats in the 81-member state assembly.
The performance of the BJP-led NDA, which was seen as confident about its prospects in the state after an aggressive campaign, was poorer than its expectations. It was leading in 29 seats.
How to Check Results
To follow the real-time results, visit the Election Commission of India's official website at www.eci.gov.in or results.eci.gov.in. District-wise and constituency-wise updates will be available.
Dhanwar Assembly Election 2024: Candidate List and Key Contestants
The major political parties in the Dhanwar Assembly constituency-Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-have all put forward candidates. Here's a look at the list of contenders:
Babulal Marandi (BJP)
Mukesh Kumar Verma (BSP)
Nizam Uddin Ansari (JMM)
Raj Kumar Yadav (CPI(M))
Mohammad Danish (ASP(KR))
Akleshwar Saw (LAP)
Rajdesh Ratan (JLKM)
Dhanwar's Recent Electoral History
In the 2019 Jharkhand Assembly elections, Babulal Marandi of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) emerged victorious, securing 52,352 votes. Marandi defeated BJP's Lakshman Prasad Singh, who received 34,802 votes. The 2019 election results for Dhanwar were as follows:
Babulal Marandi (JVM): 52,352 votes (27.6% of total valid votes)
Lakshman Prasad Singh (BJP): 34,802 votes (18.3%)
Raj Kumar Yadav (CPI(ML)(L)): 32,245 votes (17%)
Anup Kumar Sonthalia (Independent): 22,624 votes (11.9%)
Mohammad Danish (AIMIM): 15,416 votes (8.1%)
In 2014, Raj Kumar Yadav of CPI(ML)(L) had won the seat with 50,634 votes, defeating Babulal Marandi, who garnered 39,922 votes.
2024 Election Context
As the political contest heats up, the Dhanwar seat is expected to see a fierce triangular battle, with Babulal Marandi from the BJP, Raj Kumar Yadav from CPI(ML), and Nizam Uddin Ansari from JMM competing for the seat. Before filing his nomination, Babulal Marandi visited his ancestral village, Kodaibandh, in Giridih district for a religious ceremony. Union Minister and Koderma MP Annapurna Devi, who represents the Koderma constituency that includes Dhanwar, was also present during Marandi's nomination.
The political stakes are high, as this seat plays a significant role in the regional power dynamics. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP's Annapurna Devi secured 117,425 votes in the Koderma constituency, underscoring the importance of Dhanwar in the larger political landscape.