Ranchi:

The Hemant Soren-led government in Jharkhand is set to expand on December 5 with the Raj Bhavan formally being requested to schedule the swearing-in ceremony for new ministers at noon on that day, sources said.

Though an official notification is awaited, a total of 11 ministers are expected to take the oath – six from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), four from Congress, and one from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Reports suggest that the cabinet expansion will introduce six to seven new faces.

Among the likely ministers from the JMM are Deepak Birua (Chaibasa MLA), Ramdas Soren (Ghatsila MLA), Hafizul Hasan (Madhupur MLA), Anant Pratap Deo (Bhawanathpur MLA), Louis Marandi (Jama MLA), and Mathura Prasad Mahato (Tundi MLA).

However, the names of Sabita Mahato (Ichagarh MLA) and MT Raja (Rajmahal MLA) are also being considered.

Probable Congress Ministers include Rameshwar Oraon (Lohardaga MLA), Irfan Ansari (Jamtara MLA), Deepika Pandey Singh (Mahagama MLA), Pradeep Yadav (Poraiyahat MLA), and Naman Vikas Kongadi (Kolebira MLA).

Others in contention include Mamta Devi (Ramgarh MLA), Jaimangal Singh (Bermo MLA), and Ramchandra Singh (Manika MLA).

Deoghar MLA Suresh Paswan is seen as the frontrunner for the RJD’s lone ministerial slot. However, Sanjay Singh Yadav (Godda MLA) and Sanjay Prasad Yadav (Hussainabad MLA) are also lobbying for the position.

Hemant Soren was sworn in as Chief Minister on November 28. In the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, his four-party alliance holds 56 seats – the JMM 34, the Congress 16, the RJD four, and the CPI-ML two.

Notably, the CPI-ML has opted to keep out of the cabinet.

Political analysts say the delay was due to the complexities of power-sharing among two major alliance partners – the Congress and the RJD. The state can have a maximum of 12 ministers including the Chief Minister.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Claim: The video shows Arvind Kejriwal ignoring and not shaking hands with Rahul Gandhi during Hemant Soren’s swearing-in ceremony on November 28.

Fact: The claim is false. The viral video is clipped. The extended version shows Kejriwal shaking hands with Rahul.

Hyderabad: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren was sworn in as Jharkhand chief minister on November 28, following the INDIA bloc’s resounding victory in the State Assembly elections. The swearing-in ceremony, held at Ranchi’s Morabadi Ground, was attended by prominent leaders of the INDIA Opposition alliance.

Notable attendees included the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav.

A video of the ceremony has been making rounds on social media, showing Arvind Kejriwal shaking hands with Congress leader and Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, seated beside Rahul Gandhi. The claim alleges that Kejriwal deliberately avoided shaking hands or acknowledging Rahul Gandhi.

A user on X shared the video and wrote, “Kejriwal did not shake hands with Rahul Gandhi…It is clear that AAP is not in the mood to give Congress any importance in the Delhi elections.”

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim was false as the video was clipped. The extended version shows Kejriwal shaking hands with Rahul before Shivakumar.

We conducted a keyword search on X and came across two clips shared by a user. The first clip does not show Kejriwal shaking hands with Rahul Gandhi, while the second clearly shows them greeting each other and shaking hands before Shivakumar. (Archive)

MISLEADING Video.

A misleading video was shared by @ANI without context. The trimmed clip falsely suggests @ArvindKejriwal Ignored a handshake with Rahul Gandhi.

Clipped Video Vs Full Video pic.twitter.com/ThIjOYNhW5

— Manu (@mshahi0024) November 29, 2024

Following this lead, we searched for the swearing-in ceremony video on YouTube and found a live stream over three hours long on Jharkhand’s government channel on November 28. At the 2:53:00-hour timestamp, the video shows Kejriwal, accompanied by his wife Sunita Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and AAP leader Raghav Chadha, being welcomed to the event by Soren’s wife, Kalpana Soren. At the 2:56:00 timestamp, Kejriwal is seen stepping onto the stage, and at 2:56:06, he shakes hands with Rahul Gandhi, followed by DK Shivakumar. He then greets Mallikarjun Kharge and Mamata Banerjee with folded hands.

We also came across the swearing-in ceremony video published by Live Hindustan on November 28. In this video, Kejriwal was seen shaking hands with Rahul Gandhi at the 49:28-minute timestamp.

Hence, we conclude that the viral video has been clipped to mislead the public. The claim that Kejriwal ignored Rahul during Soren’s swearing-in ceremony is false.

Claim Review: The video shows Arvind Kejriwal ignoring and not shaking hands with Rahul Gandhi during Hemant Soren’s
swearing-in ceremony on November 28.

Claimed By: X

Claim Reviewed By: NewsMeter

Claim Source: X users

Claim Fact Check: False

Fact: The claim is false. The viral video is clipped. The extended version shows Kejriwal shaking hands with Rahul.

(This story was originally published by NewsMeter, and republished by NDTV as part of the Shakti Collective)

Of the 56 seats won by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led INDIA bloc, 27 were from the assembly constituencies reserved for Schedule Tribe (ST) candidates. Once again, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has stumbled at the hustings in this belt. Altogether, there are 81 assembly constituencies in the state, of which 28 are reserved for ST candidates, which roughly works out to about 35% of the total seats here. As per the 2011 census, STs account for 26.2% of the state’s population. The state has the highest number of Scheduled Tribe voters – 28% of the electorate.

In the 2024 assembly polls, according to the Election Commission website, the BJP managed to win only one of the reserved seats, and that too thanks to former chief minister and JMM turncoat, Champai Soren. Champai Soren was appointed as Hemant Soren’s successor after Hemant Soren, who had become chief minister at the end of 2019, was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a land acquisition case. However, five months later, when Hemant Soren reclaimed the chief minister’s chair, a disgruntled Champai Soren parted ways with him.

Interestingly, this time he won the Seraikella (ST) seat with a margin of 20,447 votes. In 2019, he had won the same seat with a margin of 15,667 votes, and in 2014, by just 1,115 votes. Thus, his supporters remained loyal, and his victory was stronger in 2024.

Meanwhile, Hemant Soren’s margin of victory at Barhait (ST) also increased to 39,791, from 25,740 votes in 2019. In the previous assembly elections, he led the BJP challenger by 24,087 votes.

In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won two of the 28 seats reserved for ST candidates, while the JMM secured 19. The Congress won six. With a total of 30 seats, the JMM formed a coalition government with the Congress (16 seats) and the RJD (1 seat). Hemant Soren became chief minister for the second time, after a brief tenure ending in 2014.

Political instability has plagued Jharkhand, and except for BJP’s Raghubar Das, no chief minister has completed a full term since the state was carved out of Bihar in 2000. Jharkhand is also the state where independent legislator Madhu Koda became chief minister in September 2006, a position he held for almost a year with support from several parties, who backed him as a ‘safe candidate.’

Amidst this turbulence, support for the BJP continued to decline in the tribal areas. From nine seats in 2005, it rose to 11 in 2014, but then plummeted to just two in 2019. Even in the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year, the BJP lost all five seats reserved for ST candidates. Notably, these parliamentary polls took place about four months after Hemant Soren’s arrest. Recognising the importance of tribal votes, Babulal Marandi-a Santhal, like Hemant Soren-was appointed the state party president in July 2023.

It didn’t help either. It is said that the RSS-affiliated Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram has not been as active in the tribal areas of Jharkhand as it once was. Some attribute this decline to a lack of coordination and cooperation with certain BJP leaders.

However, Babulal Marandi, who was appointed the first chief minister of Jharkhand after its bifurcation, won the Dhanwar seat with a margin of 35,438 votes. He is hailed by many in the state for his early contributions to the development of Jharkhand. But as chief minister, he was criticized for failing to keep his coalition partners united. As a result, BJP’s Arjun Munda succeeded him in 2003. When Munda was reinstated after the 2005 assembly elections, Babulal Marandi left the party the following year, alleging that he was not being given his due.

Marandi went on to form the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) and contested 25 seats, winning 11 in the 2009 elections. However, over time, his party’s electoral fortunes declined, and he eventually returned to the BJP. The results indicate that he has yet to regain the confidence of his followers.

Considering these factors, the BJP attempted to play the “infiltrator” card. Party leaders accused the Hemant Soren-led government of allowing the unchecked inflow of Bangladeshi infiltrators, thereby depriving tribals and backward classes of their rights. However, it seems that this strategy did not work in Jharkhand.

(Jayanta Bhattacharya is a senior journalist writing on polls and politics, conflict, farmer and human interest issues)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

Ranchi:

Hemant Soren, 49, has carved a significant place on Jharkhand’s political scoreboard, building on his legacy with determination, skill, and resilience. Sworn in as Jharkhand’s Chief Minister for the fourth time on Thursday, a record in the 24 years of the existence of Jharkhand, Soren has demonstrated an enduring ability to adapt and grow in a complex political landscape.

Born on August 10, 1975, in Nemra village under Gola block of the then Hazaribagh district, Hemant is the third child of Shibu Soren, founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). In the 1970s, Shibu Soen was deeply involved in establishing the JMM to spearhead the demand for a separate Jharkhand state.

Hemant’s early education began at Central School in Bokaro and continued at MG High School in Patna, where he completed his matriculation in 1990 and intermediate studies in 1994. Enrolling in mechanical engineering at BIT Mesra, Ranchi, Hemant left his studies midway to enter politics, beginning his career in 2003 as President of the Jharkhand Chhatra Morcha, the student wing of the JMM.

In 2005, Hemant contested the Dumka Assembly seat but lost to Stephen Marandi. His political journey took a turn in 2009 after the sudden death of his elder brother Durga Soren, the presumed political successor to Shibu Soren.

Hemant stepped up to support his grieving family and was elected to the Rajya Sabha in June 2009. However, later that year, he won the Dumka Assembly seat, resigning from the Rajya Sabha to focus on state politics.

Shibu Soren, meanwhile, worked to establish Hemant as his successor within the JMM, despite internal resistance from senior leaders like Stephen Marandi, Simon Marandi, and Champai Soren. Ultimately, Hemant emerged as the party’s face.

In 2010, JMM joined forces with the BJP to form a coalition government, with Hemant serving as Deputy Chief Minister under Arjun Munda. However, in January 2013, he withdrew support from the Munda government, citing policy disagreements on local issues, leading to the imposition of President’s Rule. Six months later, Hemant played his first political card when he formed a coalition government with the Congress and RJD, taking oath as Jharkhand’s Chief Minister for the first time in July 2013.

After a brief tenure as Chief Minister for 17 months, the JMM faced defeat in the 2014 Assembly elections. However, as Leader of the Opposition, Hemant redefined his political strategy, rallying against the Raghubar Das-led BJP government on issues like land laws affecting tribal identity. His efforts paid off in the 2019 elections when the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance secured 47 seats, dethroning the BJP. Hemant Soren became Chief Minister for the second time on December 29, 2019.

During his second term, Hemant faced serious allegations, including mining and land scams. In January 2024, he was jailed in a money laundering case, forcing him to step down for five months. However, his incarceration enhanced his image as a resilient leader. Meanwhile, his wife, Kalpana Soren, rose as a political force, and together they led the JMM to an electoral comeback.

Hemant Soren’s political journey is a testament to his ability to blend legacy with grit, shaping Jharkhand’s destiny while overcoming formidable challenges. With the start of his fourth tenure, Soren hopes to leave a mark on the state’s politics.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:
Hemant Soren will take oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand today after leading the INDIA alliance to a decisive victory in the recently concluded assembly elections.

1. Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar is expected to administer the oath of office and secrecy to Hemant Soren today. This will be the fourth time the 49-year-old will be taking oath.

2. Mr Soren, however, could be the only minister of the state to take oath today. According to information received so far, Mr Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha or JMM has not received any list of ministers from ally Congress. 

3. Sources indicated that the cabinet will be expanded next week, after the new government takes the vote of confidence. 

4. The JMM is expected to keep six ministerial berths in addition to the Chief Minister’s post. The Congress will get four berths and Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal will get one.

5. The CPI-ML, which has two MLAs, will support the government from outside.

6. Today’s oath ceremony will be held at the at Morhabadi ground in Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi. It is expected to be attended by top leaders of the INDIA bloc.  

7. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu are likely to attend the event.

8. The INDIA bloc won a second consecutive term in Jharkhand with a  decisive victory last week. The JMM won 34 of the state’s 81 seats while the Congress won 16, RJD four and CPI(ML) two seats. 

9. “I’m grateful to the people of Jharkhand for their continued trust in our leadership,” Mr Soren said in his victory speech. “This victory reflects the aspirations of the people, and we will work towards fulfilling them. This is a victory of the people and their vision for a peaceful and progressive Jharkhand,” he added.

10. Ahead of the oath ceremony, Mr Soren and his wife Kalpana Murmu Soren had visited Delhi and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss a collaborative roadmap for the state. While in Delhi, they also invited various INDIA bloc leaders for the oath ceremony.

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Ranchi:

After registering a decisive victory in the Jharkhand Assembly elections, Hemant Soren is set to take oath as Chief Minister on Monday, sources said. Mr Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance triumphed in the polls, setting the stage for him to return as Chief Minister. Despite facing a fierce challenge from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA alliance, which mounted an aggressive campaign, the JMM managed to secure 56 seats in the 81-member assembly, far surpassing the BJP’s 24. 

According to sources, Mr Soren will meet Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar today to stake claim to form the government. 

Hemant Soren’s Trials, Tribulations 

Mr Soren, who had faced political turmoil this year, including a legal battle and an arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), emerged stronger than ever. in the recent polls. The 49-year-old won from the Barhait constituency, where he defeated BJP’s Gamliyel Hembrom by a margin of 39,791 votes. 

READ | NDA Decimates Opposition In Maharashtra, Jharkhand Stays With INDIA

After his release on bail earlier this year, Mr Soren returned to the political fray with renewed vigour. His wife, Kalpana Soren, who played a key role in keeping the JMM ship steady in his absence, won her seat in Gandey with a margin of 17,142 votes. 

In a statement following the election results, Mr Soren expressed gratitude to the people of Jharkhand, terming the INDIA bloc’s strong showing as a “passing of the exam of democracy.” The JMM’s victory is widely seen as a reaffirmation of the tribal vote’s loyalty to Mr Soren’s leadership, despite the best efforts by the BJP to wrest power from the incumbent government.

BJP: Aggressive Yet Unsuccessful

The BJP, led by prominent figures such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, launched a high-octane campaign targeting the Soren-led government’s alleged corruption and accusations of fostering “infiltration” from Bangladesh. Despite the extensive reach of the BJP’s campaign, which included rallies by the party’s top brass, the NDA’s strategy fell flat, failing to replicate its Maharashtra victory.

The BJP contested 68 seats and secured only 21, with its vote share standing at 33.18 per cent, a figure that was still higher than JMM’s 23.44 per cent, but not enough to secure a majority. 

READ | Hemant Soren Shuts Jharkhand Door To NDA, What He Said In Victory Speech

The party faced internal bickering, especially regarding nominations for “turncoat” candidates, with several prominent party leaders, such as former BJP members Kedar Hazra and Louis Marandi, switching allegiance to the JMM just ahead of the elections. Some analysts argue that the BJP’s inability to project a local tribal leader as the face of its campaign in Jharkhand was a tactical misstep.

JMM’s Winning Strategy

The JMM’s campaign focused heavily on welfare schemes aimed at addressing the economic challenges faced by the state’s rural population. One of the key policies that resonated with the voters was the Maiyan Samman Yojna, a scheme that provides financial assistance to women in the age group of 18-50 years. Initially offering Rs 1,000 per month, the JMM promised to increase this amount to Rs 2,500 after the election results. 

In addition to this, Mr Soren’s government waived farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh, benefiting over 1.75 lakh farmers. Other populist measures included the waiver of outstanding electricity bills and the introduction of a free electricity scheme for up to 200 units, which particularly appealed to lower-income households. 

The JMM’s victory is not just a win for Mr Soren, but also for his family’s deep connection with the state’s tribal communities. His father, Shibu Soren, the JMM’s founding leader and a former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, remains an influential figure in state politics. Both Shibu Soren and his wife, Rupi Soren, were seen blessing their son and daughter-in-law after the election results.
 

The mandate that Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had managed to get in Maharashtra during the parliament elections has been lost in the assembly elections. Not many were willing to say which way the election would turn this time. There was almost an agreement among political analysts and pollsters that the election was too close to call. But now it’s clear that much before the election, the voters had decided to vote for Mahayuti.

It is not an ordinary mandate. It is the best-ever performance by the BJP-led alliance.

In 2014, the BJP contested alone and won 122 seats, but in 2019, it contested along with Shiv Sena and had 161 seats together, whereas the Congress-led alliance had to satisfy itself with only 98 seats. This time, Mahayuti has more than 2/3 seats in its kitty. The BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP all performed better than expected. Now the question is, why has the MVA, which won 30 out of 48 seats in the parliamentary elections, failed so miserably in the assembly elections?

In Jharkhand, on the other hand, INDIA Bloc has managed to regain people’s confidence. This is a stupendous success considering the fact that Chief Minister Hemant Soren was jailed just before the general elections and was behind bars for six months. Once he was out, his trusted colleague Champai Soren deserted the party just before the assembly elections. Still, the JMM-led alliance is heading for a big win, unlike most state has seen before.

Two verdicts from two distant states tell a story: there is no uniform outcome and no single narrative. However, it can be said that women voters played a significant role in both states, and in each, direct cash transfers to women’s accounts proved decisive. In Maharashtra, the female voter turnout rose by 2.5% compared to the 2019 assembly elections, in contrast to male voters. In Maharashtra, the Ladki Bahin Scheme, and in Jharkhand, the Maiya Samman Yojna, both benefited the ruling coalitions.

Another noticeable pattern in both states is that those who won the Lok Sabha election were unable to replicate that performance in the assembly elections. In both states, the Lok Sabha results were reversed in the assembly elections. In Maharashtra, the MVA outperformed the Mahayuti in the parliamentary elections, but in the assembly elections, the Mahayuti reversed the trend. In Jharkhand, the NDA won 9 out of 14 Lok Sabha seats, but in the assembly elections, it was the INDIA alliance that defeated the NDA. This clearly underlines that Lok Sabha and assembly elections are fought on different issues and platforms, and it is erroneous to predict assembly election results based on Lok Sabha outcomes, or vice versa.

Maharashtra election is another example that Congress-led INDIA is not willing to learn any lesson. After the Parliament election, it was expected that Congress in Haryana and MVA in Maharashtra would have easy wins. But in both states, the BJP-led coalition belied all the expectations, and one can say with confidence that the Congress-led alliance has mastered the art of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Let’s not forget that in December 2023, Congress was expected to win MP and Chhattisgarh assembly elections. Whereas when no political pundit was willing to give a chance to the BJP in these two states, it turned the tables and came back with flying colours.

Similarly, the Congress was unable to win the Uttarakhand and Punjab assembly elections in 2022. Therefore, both INDIA bloc and, particularly, the Congress need to reflect and develop a winning strategy. I’m not denying that Congress had successes in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana, but the issue remains: why lose a state that could have been easily won, and why is it that the BJP managed to turn a losing situation into a victory?

The Maharashtra election results could have far-reaching consequences, particularly for Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP). Operation Lotus had already split Shiv Sena and NCP, and the Lok Sabha election delivered a significant blow, not only to Narendra Modi at the centre but also to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Despite receiving recognition from the Election Commission, had both parties lost in the assembly elections, their existence would have been seriously jeopardized. Now, the reverse scenario is possible. The Modi government at the centre and the BJP-led Mahayuti government in the state, with a mandate of more than two-thirds, will likely try to weaken both parties, aiming to claim sole ownership of the original Shiv Sena and NCP. Given the results, Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray will find it difficult to retain their MPs. Even the BJP may attempt to poach their MPs by engineering further splits in the parliamentary wings of both parties. If that happens, the BJP at the centre will edge closer to the majority mark in the Lok Sabha. Even if not, MLAs who have won on Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar’s party tickets could be lured to join the treasury benches.

I know it is too early to write the last chapter of Sharad Pawar’s biography, but it is also true that Sharad Pawar, who emerged as a hero in the Parliament election, is now a tragic figure. He has lost after having made an emotional appeal to voters that it was his last election. Sharad Pawar is already 84 years and it is expecting too much for him to remain relevant in 2029 when the next assembly election will be held.

On the other hand, Uddhav Thackeray is much younger, but it must be noted that in both the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, Shinde proved to be better equipped to carry forward Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy. Uddhav’s performance has been more than disappointing. He and his son, Aditya, will find it very difficult to mount a comeback. Blaming EVMs is poor politics. It makes no sense to blame the EVMs, insinuate any wrongdoing in the election, or propagate the idea that the electoral process has been manipulated unless there is concrete proof.

Finally, on the role of the RSS going forward. It was said that the RSS was less active during the 2024 general election and that was behind the BJP’s below-par performance. Does this mean the RSS’s role in the BJP’s affairs will now be more decisive?

(Ashutosh is the author of ‘Hindu Rashtra’ and co-founder of SatyaHindi.com)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

New Delhi:

In a light grey sports sweatshirt, flanked by party leaders in more formal attire, Hemant Soren announced in a rather slow, conversational tone the victory of his party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and its alliance in the assembly election.

The grouping, known as INDIA, comprising the JMM, Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, crossed the halfway mark comfortably and managed to keep ‘Fort Jharkhand’ safe from the approaching forces of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which has a reputation as an election-winning machine.

“I heard Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has congratulated us. I want to thank him,” said the Jharkhand Chief Minister who was recently jailed in a land case, a matter which the JMM alleged was the Centre’s conspiracy to harass rivals using investigative agencies.

“All of you know it is a hard-won victory after the battle between INDIA and the NDA,” Mr Soren told reporters this evening. “The people have taken a huge, responsible decision in ensuring the state remains strong. Many first-time voters participated, and I thank them for their support.”

He thanked the youth, farmers, women, workers and people from all sections of society for “keeping faith in us”.

Mr Soren, who quit as Chief Minister before he was jailed, took over the top post after he was released.

Earlier today, as counting of votes began, the numbers for the NDA or the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra looked good. In the north in Jharkhand, over 1,300 km away, the NDA also appeared to be leading. However, within a span of minutes as more trends came, Mr Soren’s JMM and its allies galloped ahead.

By evening, the trends clearly cemented INDIA’s sure win in Jharkhand, where tribal votes can make or break the chances of national parties.

“How’s the josh?” the JMM’s official handle posted on X, alluding to the phenomenal chase and eventual overtaking of the NDA’s numbers.

New Delhi:

For Hemant Soren, the beginning and end of 2024 could not have been more different. 

Less than a month into the year, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate in a land scam case and he had made sure he resigned as the Jharkhand chief minister before he was arrested. Now, with a month left in the year, Mr Soren has emerged as the architect of a thumping victory, ensuring that the INDIA alliance remains in power in the state and he gets a second straight term as chief minister. 

The JMM leader also suffered multiple other setbacks in between.

After Mr Soren’s arrest on January 31, his sister-in-law, Sita Soren – the wife of his late brother Durga Soren – joined the BJP in March. She was miffed over alleged moves to make Mr Soren’s wife, Kalpana, the chief minister in his absence and was expelled from the JMM for ‘anti-party’ activities in May.

The former chief minister was then granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court in June, five months after his arrest. The court held that, prima facie, he was not guilty and was not likely to commit a similar offence, noting that both conditions for bail under the stringent Prevention of Money Laundering Act had been met. 

Champai Soren – a close aide of JMM chief Shibu Soren and widely seen as the number three in the party – was appointed the chief minister in Hemant Soren’s absence. Trouble began brewing, however, when the party asked him to resign in July after Mr Soren’s release.

“When the leadership had changed, I was given responsibility. You know the sequence of events. After Hemant Soren came back, we (the coalition) picked him as our leader and I have resigned. I am following the decision taken by the coalition,” an upset Champai Soren had said after resigning in July. 

He joined the BJP a month later, claiming that he had been “humiliated and insulted” and wanted to deliver justice to the people. The BJP also accused the JMM-Congress alliance of allowing “infiltration” in the state, an issue that appeared to be gaining traction among voters. 

Despite all this, and some seat-sharing trouble with allies like the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Mr Soren ensured that his party bettered its tally to a projected 33 this year in the 81-member Assembly, up from 30 in 2019. Good performances from the Congress, RJD and CPI (ML) have taken the ruling coalition’s number to 55, with the BJP-led alliance ahead in only 25 seats. 

New Delhi:

As the JMM-led INDIA bloc crossed the majority mark in the Jharkhand Assembly elections, Chief Minister Hemant Soren took to social media to share a photograph of him and his children. The JMM chief and his wife Kalpana Soren are parents to two boys. Sharing a picture of his two sons, he wrote, “My strength.” 

The ruling JMM-led alliance – which includes the Congress and the RJD – under Mr Soren’s leadership, appears poised to secure a majority in the 81-member Assembly, as per the latest Election Commission data. With leads in 51 seats, the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance seems to have effectively countered the BJP-led NDA, which was ahead in 29 constituencies.

मेरी शक्ति pic.twitter.com/6NP6O6Vl7R

— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) November 23, 2024

The BJP entered the fray with aggressive campaigning, focusing on issues such as “infiltrators” in the Santhal Parganas region. However, this narrative appears to have been overshadowed by the JMM’s emphasis on tribal identity and local pride, particularly amidst controversies surrounding Mr Soren’s legal battles and allegations of corruption.

According to the latest trends, the JMM was leading in 31 seats, the Congress in 14, and the RJD in four. The BJP held 26 leads, while smaller parties, including the AJSU Party and LJP (Ram Vilas), were ahead in a few scattered constituencies.

Key figures in the race include BJP state president Babulal Marandi, who maintained a lead in Dhanwar, and Congress heavyweight Rameshwar Oraon, who led in Lohardaga. On the JMM front, Mr Soren himself held a comfortable lead in Barhait, while his wife, Kalpana Soren, was trailing in Gandey.

The elections saw a record voter turnout of 67.74%, the highest since Jharkhand’s formation in 2000. Held in two phases on November 13 and 20, the polls reflected a deeply divided electorate. Exit polls had predicted a range of outcomes, with some forecasting a clear NDA win, while others saw the JMM-led bloc emerging victorious.

The JMM’s steady climb in the early hours of counting, despite a BJP surge, highlights the shifting dynamics of Jharkhand’s political landscape. The party’s grassroots connections, coupled with its emphasis on tribal rights and welfare, seem to have paid dividends against the BJP’s focus on national issues.

As counting progresses, the INDIA bloc appears confident of crossing the majority mark of 41 seats. If the trends hold, Hemant Soren is set to return as Chief Minister, buoyed by what he has described as the “strength” drawn not just from his family but also from the people of Jharkhand.