Dhanbad (Jharkhand) [India], November 20 : BJP candidate from Dhanbad Assembly seat, Raj Sinha said on Tuesday that as per the current trend, it is clear that the BJP is going to form the government in Jharkhand.
Speaking to ANI, Sinha said, "As per the current trend and seeing the huge number of voters, it is clear that BJP is going to form its government in this election. We raised the issue of Bangladesh (infiltrators) because it is the truth and the people need to know about it and its consequences."
On the Dhanbad seat, BJP's Raj Sinha, who is also the sitting MLA, is in the electoral fray against Congress' Ajay Dubey.
Meanwhile, voting commenced at 7 am on Wednesday for the second phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections, covering the remaining 38 seats.
Ahead of the elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraged voters to enthusiastically participate in the final phase of the Jharkhand elections, aiming for record turnout. He congratulated first-time voters, emphasising that their votes strengthen the state.
"Today is the second and last phase of the great festival of democracy in Jharkhand. I urge all voters to participate enthusiastically and set a new record for voter turnout. On this occasion, I especially congratulate all my young friends voting for the first time. Your vote strengthens the state," PM Modi posted on X.
The first phase of voting took place on November 13 for 43 of the 81 assembly seats.
The elections see a fierce contest between the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-Congress alliance, seeking to retain power, and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA, aiming to unseat the Hemant Soren-led government.
In the second phase, prominent seats are under the spotlight. Chief Minister Hemant Soren is contesting from the Barhait constituency, facing BJP's Gamliyel Hembrom.
Another key candidate is BJP's Babulal Marandi, contesting from the Dhanwar constituency. Marandi, the state's first Chief Minister after its formation in 2000, served as Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing assembly. He is up against JMM's Nizam Uddin Ansari.
Kalpana Soren, wife of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, is contesting against BJP's Muniya Devi in the Gandey constituency. Kalpana Soren previously won the assembly by-poll in Gandey earlier this year.
Another significant candidate is BJP's Sita Soren, contesting from the Jamtara constituency.