Long Night in Jharkhand as Suspense Builds up Ahead of Counting
Jharkhand counting centre. Image credit. The Raisina Hills
Will Raghubar Das Return to Jharkhand Politics?
By Amit Singh
Ranchi, November 22: It’s a long night in Jharkhand. The counting of votes for 81 Assembly seats will begin at 8 AM on Saturday. The candidates are busy in their constituencies to prepare for the counting of votes.
The counting centres have turned into picnic spots. Political workers are camping outside the counting centres. Meals are being prepared for the party workers outside the counting centres.
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“Now all the candidates are busy with their agents. The agents will sit on the counting table everywhere. In every assembly, there are 19 rounds of counting, somewhere there are 17 rounds of counting, somewhere there are 21 rounds of counting, somewhere there are 25 rounds of counting,” said Prafulla Singh, a Daltonganj-based political observer.
In the makeshift shelters, the political workers are keeping themselves busy by playing carrom and cards. Tea and snacks are in regular supply as they prepare for a long day of counting tomorrow.
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The candidates spent the day distributing ID cards given to them by the Election Commission in every district by the Returning Officer. “They will be kept at one place overnight. At 6:00 am they will be sent to the polling counting center and all the arrangements for their food, drink and accommodation are there,” added Singh.
The candidates are also camping with their workers in their respective constituencies. The political workers have been briefed of the norms and ways to raise complaints with the Returning Officer’s table in case of any irregularity.
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In the last three-four days, there is a picnic atmosphere in front of every strong room and someone is feeding mutton rice to the political workers. Jharkhand is also known for non-veg food. The feat will continue throughout tonight.
The political workers are also discussing the possible mandate of the people. They are threadbare discussing the political span of Jharkhand in the last 24 years.
The political observers are also making rounds of the counting centres to gauge the mood. Intense suspense is building.
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In some quarters, the political workers are also recalling days when Jharkhand saw an Independent MLA, Madhu Koda, becoming the chief minister of the state. Koda was afterwards mired in corruption and also was convicted.
With long night in store, the political workers also speculated on the future career of incumbent Odisha Governor Raghubar Das. Will he return to become the chief minister of Jharkhand if the BJP-led alliance wins a clear majority, asked a BJP worker at one of the counting centres.
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