Jharkhand Election Results 2024 Highlights: Never claimed BJP would win, says Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on party’s poll performance

THE HUGE gap between the NDA and INDIA bloc numbers in Jharkhand (56:22 seats) hides another number – that in terms of vote share, at 33.2%, the BJP that fought 68 seats was only marginally behind the JMM and Congress’s combined share of 39.02%, after putting up candidates in 75 seats.

This meant that the BJP vote share remained almost the same as in 2019 (33.37%), while the JMM and Congress got more than five years ago (32.6%).

So how did the BJP end up with just 21 seats compared to the JMM’s 34? Plus, why does the BJP’s tally include just one tribal seat?

Here's a look at five reasons why.

A day after the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led alliance secured majority in the state Assembly elections 2024, it is likely to call on Governor Santosh Gangwar to stake claim to form the government under the leadership of Hemant Soren around 4 pm on Sunday, party sources informed The Indian Express.

Four key ministers in the JMM-led Hemant Soren government were defeated in the Jharkhand assembly elections, despite a stellar performance by the alliance which retained power by securing a majority.

The ministers who bit dust included Health minister Banna Gupta, and Water Resources minister Mithilesh Thakur.

The other two included Education minister Baidyanath Ram and Social Welfare Minister Bebi Devi whose department was behind the launch of populist Maiyan Samman Yojna that contributed significantly towards the victory of the JMM-led coalition in the state.

(PTI)

Congress leader and Jharkhand co-observer Saptagiri Ullaka, speaking to reporters, informed that the JMM-led alliance meeting will be held at 11 am on Sunday, following which the alliance will stake claim to form the government in the state.

Speaking to news agency PTI, Ullaka said: "Firstly, I'd like to thank the people of Jharkhand for giving us a huge mandate. If you look at the seats, Congress won 16 seats, amid the tribal seats, seven we have won. This is a referendum on our pro-governance policies, our campaign, narrative, we all worked as a cohesive unit. We are very hopeful of living up to the expectation of the people. We have CLP meeting at 9.30 am, and alliance meeting at 11 am, post that we will stake claim to form the government with the Governor. We are excited, and happy, we will fulfil the promises made. We will ensure that Jharkhand is on the path of growth for next five years."

On June 4, as the Lok Sabha results came, the Congress and the INDIA bloc saw green shoots of Opposition revival and celebrated what they believed was the beginning of the decline of the BJP after a decade of electoral pre-eminence.

Five months later, a new reality is staring at its face. Plus, a painful realisation – that the Opposition cannot be complacent, relying that the same themes and narratives that helped it punch some holes in the BJP’s tally in the summer will give it electoral dividends repeatedly.

Calling the results in Maharashtra "unexpected," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said: “The victory of the alliance in the state is a victory of the protection of water, forest and land along with the Constitution.” INDIA performed better in Jharkhand, but it is a victory essentially of the JMM which, despite a poor Congress effort, successfully faced down the BJP’s narrative and its shrill polarising tone.

Read the Political Pulse by Manoj C G here.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) emerged as a surprise factor in the Jharkhand Assembly polls, winning four of the six seats it contested in alliance with the JMM, the Congress and the CPI-ML(L).

RJD’s Naresh Prasad Singh won the Bishrampur seat by defeating BJP’s sitting MLA Ramchandra Chandravanshi by a margin of 14,587 votes. Singh received 32.34% votes.

RJD’s Sanjay Prasad Yadav won Godda by a margin of 21,471 votes, defeating BJP’s sitting MLA Amit Kumar Mandal. The Jharkhand election result has given a hope of revival to the RJD, whose performance in the state was constantly declining since the formation of the state.

Read more here.

In an interview with The Indian Express over a phone call, Soren said the people of Jharkhand have their own “worldview”, adding the results were an answer to the BJP, which is “indifferent to tribals”.

Excerpts:

* The BJP’s central narrative in Jharkhand was ‘infiltration’. However, that seems to have not worked…

I had countered their narrative and did not pay heed to the divisive politics. The BJP just had their eyes on the resources of the state. I also reiterated to the electorate my welfare schemes.

Mere baaton mein dum tha, tabhi to logon ne mujh par bharosa kiya (My words carried weight and that is why people reposed their faith in me).

I saved the people from getting misled by the BJP’s propaganda and divisive politics.

* What symbolism are you talking about ?

They picked up my proposer (referring to Mandal Murmu) and made him join the BJP. They also picked up the lineage of Birsa Munda and put him in an exhibition. They just want to indulge in symbolism by making a tribal president (Droupadi Murmu)… However, largely they treat others in the tribal community indifferently.

Read the full interview here.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured victory in Baghmara, Bagodar, Barhi, Barkagaon and Barkatha constituencies in Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024.

Baghmara saw Shatrughan Mahto defeat Congress's Jaleshwar Mahato by 18,682 votes, whereas, BJP's Nagendra Mahto emerged victorious in Bagodar, beating Vinod Kumar Singh from Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation) party by 32,617 votes.

In Barhi, Manoj Kumar Yadav won against Congress's Arun Sahu by 49,291 votes.

In Barkagaon, Roshan Lal Choudhary beat Congress's Amba Prasad by 31,393 votes. Lastly, in Barkatha, Amit Kumar Yadav, beat JMM's Janki Prasad Yadav by 3,660 votes.

Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate Sanjay Kumar Singh Yadav secured victory in Hussainabad constituency by around 34,364 votes, according to the Election Commission (EC) website.

He defeated BJP's Kamlesh Kumar Singh.

In Dumri, Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha's Jairam Kumar Mahato secured victory JMM's Bebi Devi by 10,945 votes.

The Bharatiya Janata Party emerged victorious in Dhanwar, Hatia, Garhwa and Hazaribagh constituencies in Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024.

While Babulal Marandi won in Dhanwar, defeating JMM's Nizamuddin Ansari, by a margin of 35,438 votes, Satyendra Nath Tiwari secured victory in Garhwa, beating Mithilesh Kumar Thakur, by 16,753 votes.

BJP's Navin Jaiswal too won in Hatia, defeating Congress's Ajay Nath Shahdeo by 14,623 votes. In Hazaribagh, meanwhile, Pradip Prasad secured victory over Congress's Munna Singh by about 43,477 votes.

AJSU Party's Nirmal Mahto secured victory in Mandu Assembly seat, defeating Congress's Jai Prakash Bhai Patel, by a margin of about 231 votes.

The Congress party secured victory in six more seats—Kanke, Khijri, Kolebira, Mandar, Mahagama, and Manika—in the Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024.

Suresh Kumar Baitha defeated Bharatiya Janata party's (BJP) Dr. Jitu Charan Ram in Kanke by a margin of 968 votes, according to the EC website. In Khijri, Rajesh Kachhap won against BJP's Ram Kumar Pahan by 29,065 votes.

In Kolebira, Naman Bixal Kongari secured victory against BJP's Sujan Jojo by a margin of 37,031 votes. Meanwhile, Deepika Pandey Singh won Mahagama, defeating BJP's Ashok Kumar by 18,645 votes. In Mandar, Shilpi Neha Tirkey from Congress won against BJP's Sunny Toppo by over 22,000 votes.

In Manika, Ramchandra Singh has won against BJP's Harikrishna Singh by a margin of about 16,854 votes.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured victory in Jamua, Jarmundi and Jharia constituencies in Jharkhand Assembly eelctions 2024.

While Manju Kumari defeated Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM) Kedar Hazra by a margin of 32,631 votes in Jamua, Devendra Kunwar beat Congress's Badal by 17,546 votes in Jarmundi.

In Jharia, BJP's Ragini Singh defeated Congress's Purnima Niraj Singh by a margin of 14,511 votes.

Congress candidate Irfan Ansari secured victory against Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Sita Murmu by a margin of 43,676 votes, according to the Election Commission website.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate Sanjay Prasad Yadav secured victory over the Godda seat in Jharkhand Assembly polls 2024, defeating Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Amit Kumar Mandal, by a margin of 21,471 votes.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM) Yogendra Yadav defeated Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha's Puja Kumari by a margin of 36093 votes in Gomia constituency.

Source: EC website

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) secured victory in Bishunpur and Boroi seats in Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024.

In Bishunpur, JMM's Chamra Linda defeated Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Samir Oraon by a margin of 32,756 votes, after according to the Election Commission website, after 21 rounds of counting.

Whereas in Boroi, Dhananjay Soren won by a margin of 19,273 votes, against Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Lobin Hembram.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren met wife Kalpana Soren at the Ranchi airport as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led INDIA bloc secured victory amid counting of votes for the Jharkhand Assembly elections.

Kalpana was also greeted by her sons, following which the Soren family posed for a picture.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Hemant Soren welcomed Kalpana at the airport, calling her a "star campaigner."

Assam Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) co-incharge for elections Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his team for securing an "impressive victory" in the Assembly elections 2024.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Sarma wrote: "JMM and its allies have secured an impressive victory in Jharkhand. My heartfelt congratulations to Shri @HemantSorenJMM and his entire team on this achievement. I am confident that under his leadership, Jharkhand will embark on a path of progress and development."

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s (JMM) Hemant Soren won the Barhait seat in Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024, by a margin of 39,791 votes, defeating Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Gamliyel Hembrom, according to the Election Commission website.

AICC General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, speaking to reporters on Saturday, confirmed that Soren will continue to be the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. "Hemant Soren is CM of Jharkhand, will continue to remain so," Mir told the media.

In an interview with The Indian Express over a phone call, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the people of Jharkhand have their own “worldview”, adding the results were an answer to the BJP, which is “indifferent to tribals”.

Excerpts:

* The INDIA bloc is set for a big return to power in Jharkhand… How are you feeling at the moment?

Hum kya bole…. Thoda sa hain emotional (What should I say, I am a bit emotional).

* The BJP’s central narrative in Jharkhand was ‘infiltration’. However, that seems to have not worked…

I had countered their narrative and did not pay heed to the divisive politics. The BJP just had their eyes on the resources of the state. I also reiterated to the electorate my welfare schemes.

Mere baaton mein dum tha, tabhi to logon ne mujh par bharosa kiya (My words carried weight and that is why people reposed their faith in me).

I saved the people from getting misled by the BJP’s propaganda and divisive politics.

Read the full interview here.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM) Lois Marandi won the Jama seat in Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024 by a margin of 5,738 votes, against Bharatiya Janata Party's Suresh Murmu.

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Raj Sinha secured victory over Dhanbad seat in Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024.

Sinha defeated Congress's Ajay Kumar Dubey by a margin of 48,741 votes, according to the EC website.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday congratulated Chief Minister Hemant Soren for Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led alliance's victorious performance in the state, as the alliance leads in 57 out of 81 Assembly constituencies.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Modi wrote: I thank the people of Jharkhand for their support towards us. We will always be at the forefront of raising people’s issues and working for the state. I also congratulate the JMM-led alliance for their performance in the state. @HemantSorenJMM."

Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) Naresh Prasad Singh won the Bishrampur seat in Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024 by a margin of over 14,589 votes, according to the website of the Election Commission.

Singh defeated Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Ramchandra Chandravanshi, as per the results which were declared after 19 rounds of counting.

Bharatiya Janata Party's Manoj Kumar Yadav won the Barhi Assembly seat in Jharkhand, against Congress's Arun Sahu, by a margin of 49,291 votes.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s (JMM) Dashrath Gagrai won the Kharsawan Assembly seat against Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Sonaram Bodra by a margin of 32,615 votes.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM) Uma Kant Rajak won the Chandankiyari Assembly seat, as the Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri of BJP trailed at the third spot, according to the Election Commission website.

Rajak won the seat by a margin of 33733 votes.