Jharkhand Elections 2024 Live Updates: 683 candidates will be in the fray along with some big-time leaders including former Chief Minister Champai Soren and six existing cabinet ministers who are in Hemant Sorens administration.

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 27.04% till 11 am.

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.

Former CM Champai Soren, contesting on a BJP ticket in Seraikela, faces a challenge from former JMM's Ganesh Mahli.

The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has fielded 23 candidates for this phase of Jharkhand elections, with allies Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) are contesting on 17 and five seats respectively.

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.

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.

Health Minister Banna Gupta, Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji, Geeta Koda, wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda, and Purnima Das, the daughter-in-law of former Chief Minister Raghubar Das, are the other key candidates in fray.