Municipal polls announced in Jharkhand after prolonged legal battle; voting on Feb 23
Ranchi, January 27: After a prolonged legal battle in the Jharkhand High Court and strong directions from the court, the long-awaited municipal elections…
Ranchi, January 27: After a prolonged legal battle in the Jharkhand High Court and strong directions from the court, the long-awaited municipal elections in Jharkhand have finally been announced.
State Election Commissioner Alka Tiwari on Tuesday declared the election schedule, ending years of uncertainty over civic polls in the state. As per the notification issued by the State Election Commission, voting will be held on February 23, while counting of votes is scheduled for February 27. The entire election process will be completed by the end of February.
The announcement comes following firm observations and orders by the Jharkhand High Court, which had repeatedly expressed concern over the delay in conducting municipal elections and directed the state authorities to ensure that democratic processes at the urban local body level are restored without further delay.
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Elections After More Than Five Years
Notably, the last municipal elections in Jharkhand were held in 2018. Since then, elected municipal bodies have remained absent, with legal disputes—particularly over reservation issues—stalling the polls for several years.
With the declaration of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in Ranchi and other concerned municipal areas.
Appeal to Citizens
State Election Commissioner Alka Tiwari appealed to citizens to actively participate in what she described as the “festival of democracy.” She urged voters to turn out in large numbers on February 23 to elect their respective “city governments.”
Key Points Related to Municipal Elections
- Reservation Status:
The elections will be conducted based on the new reservation list issued on January 9, which was a key issue in the legal proceedings. - Mayor’s Post Reserved:
The post of Mayor of Ranchi Municipal Corporation has been reserved for the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. - Voter List:
The elections will be held using the old (revised) voter list, which had earlier triggered controversy. The Election Commission has now clarified that the same list will be used for the upcoming polls.
With the High Court’s intervention paving the way, political activity is expected to intensify across urban areas as parties and candidates prepare for the long-delayed civic elections.
