Voting for the first phase is underway in 43 out of 81 seats in Jharkhand. Wayanad, where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi contests for bypolls, has recorded a voter turnout of 40.67% at 1 pm.

In the first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections, voter turnout hit 64.86%, slightly above the 63.9% recorded in 2019. With the ruling JMM-led INDIA alliance and BJP-led NDA vying for power, this election could significantly reshape the state's political landscape.

A voter turnout of 29.31 per cent was recorded in the first four hours of polling on Wednesday in 43 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand where voting is underway in the first phase, officials said. Polling began at 7 AM in these constituencies across 15 districts and will continue till 5 PM.

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As Jharkhand enters its first phase of elections, voter participation is steadily increasing, with a recorded 29.31% turnout by 11 a.m. today. The turnout varies across districts, with Gumla and Khunti showing the highest participation at 33.