RANCHI, Feb. 28 -- Bharatiya Janata Party-backed candidates won mayoral elections in three of the nine municipal corporations in the state including the prestigious state capital, where Roshni Khalko was elected Mayor. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) gained ground in urban pockets, wresting power from the BJP in the Giridih and Deoghar municipal corporations.

Vote counting for the Dhanbad Mayor election was underway, with BJP rebel Sanjeev Singh leading by about 17,000 votes after the fourth round.

Departing from the past, the state held its civic polls this time on a non-party basis, using ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs). However, all mainstream parties, especially the BJP, JMM and Congress, backed ca...