Voters show their voter IDs as they wait in a queue to cast their votes for the first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections, at a polling booth, in Ranchi on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: ANI

In the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections, the richest candidate, Aquil Akhtar, boasts a staggering ₹400 crore in assets, while others declare as little as ₹100. This stark contrast highlights the wealth disparity among candidates as the state prepares for a pivotal electoral battle.

A voter turnout of 64.86 per cent was recorded in the 43 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand where polling was held in the first phase on Wednesday. Lohardaga district topped the list with 73.21 per cent polling while Hazaribag district recorded the lowest at 59.

The Jharkhand Assembly elections, taking place in two phases, have drawn significant attention due to the stark financial disparities among candidates.

PM Modi urged Jharkhand voters to participate enthusiastically in the assembly elections today. Voting for 43 seats began at 7 am, with 683 candidates, including former leaders. The second phase will occur on November 20,

The outcome will decide the fate of 683 candidates vying for legislative seats, including 17 general seats, 20 reserved for Scheduled Tribes, and six for Scheduled Castes.

A total 127 of the 522 candidates contesting the Phase 2 of Jharkhand Assembly elections are crorepatis, with the richest among them being SP's Aquil Akhtar.

Jharkhand witnessed a 64.8% voter turnout in the first phase of assembly elections, exceeding the 2019 figure. Tribal areas showed strong support for the ruling JMM, while urban centers like Ranchi and Jamshedpur saw lower participation.