Jharkhand to hold civic polls for 48 urban local bodies on Feb 23

The Jharkhand State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday announced that civic polls for 48 urban local bodies (ULBs) in the state, including key cities such as Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro, and Hazaribagh , will be held in a single phase on February 23, 2026 , with vote counting scheduled for February 27 .

Issuing the official notification, State Election Commissioner Alka Tiwari said the elections would be conducted non-party based , meaning candidates will contest as independents but may be backed by political parties or outfits . These polls are seen as crucial for local governance, as urban civic bodies manage essential services such as water supply, sanitation, urban planning, and infrastructure development.

Civic elections in Jharkhand have been pending for three years , leaving all 48 urban local bodies under administrative control of government officials . The delay had drawn sharp criticism from the Jharkhand High Court , which had asked the state government to expedite the electoral process. In November 2025, the SEC had submitted a timeline of eight weeks to complete the formalities and issue the election notification.

The upcoming polls cover some of the state’s largest and most economically significant cities . Ranchi , the state capital, is the administrative and political hub; Jamshedpur , an industrial city, is home to major steel and manufacturing plants; Dhanbad is the coal mining capital of India; and Bokaro is an important industrial and steel centre. These elections are expected to have a direct impact on local governance and urban development initiatives in these regions.

With citizens awaiting the polls after years of administrative rule, the SEC’s announcement marks a critical step in restoring democratic governance at the urban local level in Jharkhand.