The fate of 1,489 candidates, including heavy weights like former deputy chief minister Stephen Marandi of Congress, former Deputy chief minister Sudhir Mahto of JMM, Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee chief Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu, and BJP state unit president Raghubar Das would be decided. BJP and its ally JD(U) contested all the 81 seats as also the Congress in alliance with Babulal Marandi's Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (Prajatantrik).RJD, LJP, CPI, CPI(M) and MCC is the third main alliance contesting the election. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, which has no alliance, has put up 79 candidates while, BSP is contesting 78 seats. In Jamshedpur constituency, Saryu Roy of BJP and in Chaibasa constituency, Deepak Birua of JMM is leading. Suresh Singh of Congress is leading in Jharia, RJD candidate Annapurna Devi in Koderma and Om Prakash Ram of LJP is leading in Chhattarpur constituency.The entire counting process is being video-blocked. Most of the results are expected by this afternoon.
News On AIR | December 23, 2009 8:56 AM
Counting of votes for all the 81 constituencies for the Jharkhand Assembly began this morning amidst tight security.