Ranchi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a massive roadshow on Sunday, rallying support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections. The event, which attracted a large crowd, spanned nearly three kilometers, starting at OTC Ground and concluding at New Market Ratu Road.
The roadshow, aimed at energizing BJP supporters from key constituencies such as Ranchi, Hatia, Kanke, and Khijri, saw the participation of 501 Brahmins blowing conches to enhance its religious and cultural appeal. PM Modi’s message focused on galvanizing his party’s base in preparation for the first phase of voting on November 13.
Security was a major priority, with over 4,000 security personnel, including 17 senior IPS officers, deployed along the route to ensure the safety of the Prime Minister and the public. The authorities took extensive precautions, deploying security forces to cover the entire stretch from OTC Ground to New Market Chowk, given the large turnout expected.
PM Modi visit to Ranchi was part of a broader campaign in Jharkhand, as he also addressed rallies in Chandankiyari and Gumla earlier in the day, where he campaigned for BJP-NDA candidates in the Bokaro region.
PM’s arrival in Ranchi was preceded by a visit to Birsa Munda Airport, where he arrived from Gumla. His motorcade traveled through Hinoo Chowk, Kathal Mor, and ITI Bus Stand before reaching the OTC Ground for the road show.
Jharkhand is set to hold its assembly elections in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. The first phase of polling will be held on November 13, and Chief Electoral Officer K. Ravi Kumar announced that election campaigning for the first phase will conclude on Monday evening.
“Campaigning will end at 5 PM in areas where voting runs until 5 PM, and at 4 PM in areas where voting concludes earlier,” Kumar said. “Political workers who are not registered voters in the area must leave by this time. Violators will face action as per the rules.”
Election authorities have also made provisions to ensure smooth voting, including the deployment of helicopters to drop election workers at remote polling booths in districts such as West Singhbhum, Latehar, and Lohardaga.
Regarding election day protocols, Kumar emphasized that candidates must adhere to strict guidelines. Election camps should be located outside a 200-meter radius of polling stations and cannot be set up near religious or encroached sites. Candidates are permitted only one table and two chairs at their camps, and no campaigning materials such as flags or banners are allowed.
The CEO also urged voters to bring their voter slips to the polling stations, and reminded those without slips to contact the Booth Level Officer (BLO) for assistance. Voters can also use 12 other forms of identification to exercise their right to vote.
So far, authorities have registered 53 cases of violations of the Model Code of Conduct, with the highest number (28 cases) reported from Garhwa district. In total, illegal materials and cash worth Rs 176.15 crore have been seized across the state since the enforcement of the Model Code.
The road show and the ongoing election campaign are expected to significantly impact the political landscape as Jharkhand prepares for a pivotal election.
