RANCHI, Nov 30 (TIWN): Campaigning for the first phase of Jharkhand assembly elections ended on Thursday. Ruling BJP is expected to face a strong challenge from the opposition alliance of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the five-phase polling starting with 13 constituencies across six districts.

Seats for which voting will take place on Saturday are Chatra, Gumla, Bishunpur, Lohardaga, Manika, Latehar, Panki, Daltonganj, Bishrampur, Chhatarour, Hussainabad, Garhwa and Bhawanathpur. The opposition alliance has fielded joint candidates in all these constituencies with Congress contesting six seats, JMM four, and RJD three. BJP is trying its luck in 12 constituencies and is supporting Vinod Kumar Singh in Hussainabad.  Sudesh Mahto-headed All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), which was an ally of BJP in the last assembly polls, has fielded its candidates in Lohardaga, which is its sitting seat, Hussainabad, and Chhatarpur. Shivpujan Mehta, who won from Hussainabad as a BSP nominee in the 2014 polls, is trying to defend his seat on AJSU ticket. Former chief minister Babu Lal Marandi’s Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (JVM) is contesting the elections on its own.