New Delhi:
Maharashtra saw a saffron wave as the BJP-led Mahayuti decimated the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi in state elections while INDIA bloc held its fortress in Jharkhand. Bypoll results were also declared for 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats.

Here are the top 10 points in this big story:

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.

New Delhi:

The Jharkhand Assembly elections results, set to be announced today, promise a tense outcome as exit polls show sharply divided projections. The elections concluded on Wednesday with voting spread across two phases for 81 seats.

The first phase saw voting in 43 constituencies, while the second phase saw 38 seats up for grabs. Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), leading the ruling INDIA alliance, faces a fierce challenge from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which includes the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United), and the BJP.

Exit polls point to a narrow race with varying predictions. According to Matrize, the NDA is poised to win 42-47 seats, leaving the JMM-led alliance with 25-30 seats. Meanwhile, the TimesNow-JVC survey forecasts 40-44 seats for the NDA, with the INDIA bloc securing 30-40 seats.

The most definitive projections come from People’s Pulse, which predicts a clear win for the NDA, with 42-48 seats compared to the JMM’s 16-23 seats. AJSU is expected to secure a few seats in this scenario. However, Axis My India and P Marq offer a contrasting view, giving the JMM-led INDIA bloc a commanding 49-59 and 37-47 seats respectively, while the NDA is projected to fall far behind.

The only agency forecasting a hung assembly is Dainik Bhaskar, suggesting that both alliances will settle between 36-40 seats, just short of the majority mark of 41.

Despite exit polls giving NDA the edge, the JMM is confident of forming government again under the leadership of Hemant Soren, with a two-thirds majority. The JMM claimed that the BJP would even struggle to make a mark in 11 of the state’s 24 districts.

“After the counting of votes on November 23, our government will return with a new mandate and with a focus on public good,”  JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said. 

Key constituencies under scrutiny include Barhait, where Hemant Soren faces a tough battle. BJP’s Babulal Marandi will also be contesting from Dhanwar. Bebi Devi (INDIA bloc) is a contender in Dumri while Kalpana Soren (JMM), Hemant Soren’s wife, represents Gande. In Jamtara, Congress leader Dr Irfan Ansari faces off against Sita Soren of the JMM, making it one of the most anticipated contests.