Stage set for elections to 48 civic bodies in Jharkhand

A State Election Commission (SEC) official said that all preparations have been made to hold elections to 48 urban local bodies (ULBs) of Jharkhand, including Ranchi, on Monday, February 23, 2026.

It was stated that the voting process will start at 7 in the morning under strict security measures and will continue until 17:00.

More than 43.43 lakh voters are eligible to vote in the elections.

SEC secretary Radhe Shyam Prasad said, “The polling teams were dispatched on Sunday morning (February 22, 2026) and are expected to reach their respective destinations by this evening. Many of them have already reached.” PTI.

The counting of votes will be done on February 27.

He said elections are planned to be held for mayor, chairman and councilors in 1,042 wards, 20 nagar congregations and 19 nagar panchayats in nine municipal corporations.

Prasad said there were 1,087 wards in 48 ULBs, but elections will be held in 1,042 wards, 41 councilors were elected yet unopposed, three wards remained vacant as no candidate was fielded and the election in one ward in Mango Municipal Corporation was canceled after the death of a candidate.

While 562 candidates, 235 of whom are women, are competing for mayor and president, 5,562 candidates, including 2,727 women, are competing for neighborhood council membership.

Mr. Prasad said adequate security arrangements have been ensured at every stall in the 48 ULBs in the state.

A total of 4,307 ballot boxes were established to hold the elections. Of the total voting booths, 896 were determined to be extremely sensitive and 2,445 were determined to be sensitive.

The election campaign ended at 17.00 on Saturday, February 21.

ULB polls in Jharkhand are not contested on the basis of political parties’ election symbols, but candidates are supported by outfits.

While 11 candidates are competing for the mayoral post in Ranchi, 167 candidates are competing for the 53 ward councilor post.

Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri said that all preparations have been made for the elections to be held on Monday, February 23.

As many as 909 polling booths have been set up in Ranchi. According to the statement made by the Ranchi administration, a total of 422 wheelchairs were provided to facilitate the elderly and physically disabled people in the cabins.