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

BJP leader and Seraikela MP-elect Champai Soren on Sunday said that the party's movement against "the ever-increasing Bangladeshi infiltration in Jharkhand is not a political or election issue, but a social campaign", news agency PTI reported.

"We clearly believe that infiltrators should not get any kind of protection on this land of heroes," Champai said in a post on social media platform X.

Champai further claimed that the tribal community has become a minority in several districts - including Pakur and Sahibganj - in the state. "If we cannot protect the lands of the sons of the soil and the dignity of the daughters-in-law and daughters living there, then…?" he added.

While stating that the BJP would "very soon" start their campaign in Santhal Pargana, Champai said, "Governments will come and go, parties will be formed and dissolved but our society must remain, our tribal identity must remain, otherwise nothing will be left."

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that he had never claimed that the BJP would win the Assembly elections in Jharkhand. "Whenever you had asked me here about Jharkhand, I had said that it is a difficult state," BJP's election-in-charge for the state said, while addressing a press conference in Guwahati, news agency PTI reported. Sarma further said that it was a "tough job" for the BJP, adding that the party had done a good job under the circumstances.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a Facebook live late Saturday night, urged the JMM-led alliance, which will form the next government in Jharkhand, to fulfill their constitutional duty of identifying and deporting "infiltrators", news agency PTI reported. "I believe today also that the problem of infiltration will cause a lot of harm to Jharkhand in the coming days. It is your (JMM) government and I appeal to you to push back these infiltrators or at least identify them. It is your constitutional duty," Sarma, who was the BJP's co-in-charge for Jharkhand polls, said.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Mahua Maji, speaking to reporters on Sunday, hailed the victory of her party in Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024.

"The BJP has been completely defeated by Hemant Soren and Kalpana Soren. This is a major victory. From the very beginning, we said we would secure 53-plus seats, and we have made history by winning 56 seats," Maji said.

"The Prime Minister had to come and hold a roadshow in Ratu road in Ranchi, because he was scared of us, when they got to know that they are losing in the capital city. He himself came, without any schedule, to Ranchi, and how he diverted people's minds. They tried to polarise here by giving the slogan of 'Batoge toh katoge,' and instilled poison in the hearts of Hindus and Muslims," Maji alleged. (PTI)

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.

Congress party MLAs have begun arriving for the legislative meeting at CM's residence camp office after deliberations at their own party office.

(Express Photo)

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.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MLAs have begun to arrive at Chief Minister's residence camp office in Jharkhand's capital city of Ranchi for legislative party meeting.

(Express Photo)

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)

Jharkhand Congress in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir, speaking to news agency PTI, reirterated that a coalition meeting will be held at around 11:30 am on Sunday, where the alliance will decide its leader.

He said: "After the election results, we have seen that everyone in the party worked wholeheartedly, and the public responded positively. As far as government formation is concerned, we aim to complete the process as soon as possible. Today, we have called a meeting of the legislature party, followed by a coalition meeting at 11:30, where we will decide our leader." (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."

The BJP’s performance in Assembly constituencies spread across districts covered under the Centre’s Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) slipped further in Jharkhand as compared to its performance in 2019 polls.

Of the 112 districts covered under the ADP across the country, 19 are in Jharkhand (largest number for a state), where 66 Assembly constituencies fall in the Aspirational Districts.

The BJP has won only 16 Assembly seats in Jharkhand’s Aspirational Districts this time, which is lower than 18 it bagged in 2019 when the party had stood second in 40 segments against 36 this time.

Read more about aspirational districts in Jharkhand here.

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.

Old faces who may have “lost acceptance” and the failure of issues such as alleged infiltration to gain traction among Adivasis appear to have let down the BJP’s attempt to recapture power in Jharkhand on Saturday.

A senior Jharkhand BJP leader said a detailed review of the party’s defeat would be conducted but prima facie it appeared that its tribal faces failed to draw the community’s votes.

The INDIA alliance swept the tribal-reserved seats, winning 27 of the 28 ST-reserved seats while the BJP ended up with only Seraikella, where its candidate was former CM and ex-Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Champai Soren.

Here's the full story.

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.

The Jharkhand Assembly poll result seems to have given the stamp of approval to Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) chief Jairam Mahato a.k.a. ‘Tiger’ as the new face of the OBC Kudmi community in the state.

The JLKM won only one of the 71 seats it contested in the state but impacted the poll outcome in at least 14 seats, largely benefitting the INDIA bloc.

On the other hand, The All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) Party, claiming to be the representative of the OBC Kudmi community, won only one seat by a thin margin of 231 votes out of 10 constituencies it contested in alliance with the BJP. The biggest shocker for the AJSU was the defeat of party chief Sudesh Mahto from his constituency Silli.

The contrast in the confidence of the two leaders was evident from the statements made by Jairam and Sudesh after the poll results were announced.

Read more about the two Kudmi leaders 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.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren's prediction of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) biting the dust in not only rural but also in urban parts of the state came true on Saturday as the JMM-led alliance secured a massive victory in the Assembly elections 2024.

With 200-plus rallies, the husband-wife duo of Hemant Soren and Kalpana Soren led the JMM campaign in Jharkhand, asking for votes for their welfare schemes: Maiyya Samman Yojna, a direct benefit transfer of Rs 1,000 to all underprivileged women between 18-50 years of age; waiver of power dues of 40 lakh families to the tune of Rs 3,500 crore; and universalisation of pension of Rs 1,000 to 40 lakh people in Jharkhand.

The Sorens also tapped into Adivasi concerns, and conveyed that the tribal identity would be in danger under a BJP-led government. For Hemant, it is a personal triumph after spending time in jail in the early part of the year over money laundering allegations, and carrying the bulk of the burden of the INDIA bloc campaign.

Read the full story by Abhishek Angad 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.

Janata Dal (United) candidate Saryu Roy emerged victorious in Jamshedpur West constituency in the Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024.

Roy beat Congress's Banna Gupta by around 7,863 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.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM) Kalpana Soren secured victory in Gandey constituency in the Jharkhand Assembly elections, defeating BJP's Muniya Devi by 17,142 votes.

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

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) secured victory in Dumka, Dumri, Ghatsila, Giridih, Gumla and Ichagarh, in the Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024.

In Dumka, Basant Soren defeated BJP's Sunil Soren by a margin of 14,588 votes. In Ghatsila and Giridih, Ram Das Soren and Sudivya Kumar, defeated BJP candidates Babu Lal Soren and Nirbhay Kumar Shahabadi, respectively.

Bhushan Tirkey and Sabita Mahato from Gumla and Ichagarh, respectively, defeated BJP's Sudarshan Bhagat and AJSU party's Hare Lal Mahato.

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.

The Bharatiya Janata Party emerged victorious in Latehar and Kodarma Assembly constituencies in the Jharkhand elections 2024.

While Prakash Ram defeated JMM's Baidyanath Ram in Latehar, Dr. Neera Yadav won against RJD's Subhash Prasad Yadav in Kodarma.

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.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) secured victory in six other seats—Jugsalai, Khunti, Litipara, Madhupur, Maheshpur and Majhgaon—in the Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024.

While party's Mangal Kalindi won in Jugsalai, defeating AJSU Party's Ram Chandra Sahis, by a margin of 43,445 votes, Ram Surya Munda defeated BJP's Nilkanth Singh Munda in Khunti by 42,053 votes.

JMM's Hemlal Murmu defeated BJP's Babudhan Murmu by 26,749 votes in Litipara, as per the EC website.

Hafizul Hassan, meanwhile, secured victory in Madhupur, defeating BJP's Ganga Narayan Singh by a margin of 20027 votes. In Maheshpur, Stephen Marandi won against Navneet Anthony Hembrom by 61175 votes.

Lastly, in Majhgaon, JMM's Niral Purty won against Barkuwar Gagrai by 59603 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.

As the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led alliance secured majority in the state Assembly elections 2024, the Congress party called it a victory for the protection of water, forest and land, along with that of the Constitution, asserting that the people of Jharkhand rejected “divisive politics.”

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, according to news agency PTI: “People of Jharkhand have given priority to issues of their rights, water, forests and land; and rejected divisive, false politics. We have to fight for social justice, raise voice of people and form accountable government in Jharkhand."

Hailing the victory, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and expressed his “heartfelt gratitude to the people of Jharkhand for giving a huge mandate to INDIA bloc.”

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.

As JMM-led alliance inched closer to victory in Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi extended his "heartfelt gratitude to the people of Jharkhand," and congratulated Chief Minister Hemant Soren for the victory.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Soren wrote: "Heartfelt thanks to the people of Jharkhand for giving a huge mandate to India. Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Chief Minister Hemant Soren ji, all the workers of Congress and JMM for this victory. This victory of the alliance in the state is a victory of the protection of water, forest and land along with the Constitution. The results of Maharashtra are unexpected and we will analyse them in detail. Thanks to all the voter brothers and sisters of the state for their support and to all the workers for their hard work."

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.

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Purnima Sahu secured victory over Jamshedpur East seat, defeating Congress's Ajoy Kumar in Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024, by a margin of 42,871 votes.

The results for Jamshedpur West constituency, where JD(U)'s Saryu Roy is contesting Congress's Banna Gupta, is yet to be declared.

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

Bharatiya Janata party's (BJP) Alok Kumar Chaurasiya secured victory in Daltonganj against Congress's Krishna Nand Tripathi by a margin of 890 votes, according to the 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.

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Roshan Lal Choudhary secured victory over the Barkagaon seat in Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024.

Choudhary defeated Congress's Amba Prasad by 31,393 votes, according to the EC website.

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."

Celebrations are underway across the state of Jharkhand as JMM-led alliance is ahead in 57 seats, while the NDA is leading in 23.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress workers celebrate INDIA bloc's decisive lead amid the counting of votes for the Jharkhand Assembly elections at the JMM office, in Ranchi. (PTI Photo)

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress party supporters celebrate their decisive lead in Jharkhand Assembly polls, in Ranchi, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (PTI Photo)

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 Chief Minister Hemant Soren Saturday expressed gratitude to citizens for INDIA bloc's stellar performance in the assembly polls.

Addressing a press conference as JMM-led alliance crossed the majority mark, Soren said that his government will finalise strategy post election results.

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.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, addressing a press conference on Saturday, said that the Abua government is going to shape history in the state.

"The Abua government is going to shape history in the state of Jharkhand. You must have witnessed such an election for the first time. We have succeeded in this examination of democracy," Soren told the reporters, while thanking them for their work in disseminating information to the public in all possible ways.

He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his wishes to the JMM-led alliance in the state.

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.

Assam Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) election co-incharge Himanta Biswa Sarma, shared that BJP's loss in Jharkhand was deeply painful for him.

"The loss in Jharkhand is deeply painful for me personally, even though we secured victory in all five by-elections in Assam. I have witnessed the unwavering dedication and relentless efforts of our Karyakartas in Jharkhand, who gave their all in this election. We fought with a vision to protect the state from infiltration and to lead it on the path of development, fulfilling the aspirations of students and youth," he wrote in a post on X.

"However, we must humbly accept the mandate of the people, for that is the true essence of democracy. In these challenging times, we will stand firmly with our Karyakartas, offering them unwavering support and solidarity," he added in his tweet.

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.

Congress's Sona Ram Sinku has secured victory over Jaganathpur seat in the Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024 by a margin of 7,383 votes.

Sinku defeated Bharatiya Janata Party's Geeta Kora, as per the results, which were declared after 17 round of counting.

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.

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Shatrughan Mahto secured victory over the Baghmara seat in Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024, against Congress's Jaleshwar Mahato, by a margin of over 18,682 votes.

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."

Chief Minister Hemant Soren is leading from the Barhait Assembly constituency as the final round of counting is underway.

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.

Congress's Shwetta Singh secured victory over the Bokaro Assembly seat in Jharkhand against Bharatiya Janata Party's Biranchi Narayan by a margin of 7,207 votes, after 24 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.

Congress’s Rameshwar Oraon has won the Lohardaga Assembly seat by a margin of 34,670 votes. He defeated AJSU Party's Neru Shanti Bhagat, the EC website declared after 18 rounds of counting.

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) Anant Pratap Deo won the Bhawanathpur Assembly seat against Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Bhanu Pratap Shahi by a margin of 21,462 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.

JMM's Sukhram Oraon has won the Chakradharpur Assembly seat by a margin of 9276 votes, having polled 58,033 votes in total after 17 rounds of counting. He defeated BJP's Shashibhushan Samad, who received 48,757 votes.

Jairam Mahato a.k.a Tiger, a 29-year-old rising OBC Kudmi leader and the founding chief of the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JKLM), has won the Dumri Assembly constituency by a margin of 10,945 votes. Mahato defeated JMM's Bebi Devi, who polled 83,551 votes after 21 rounds of counting.

JMM candidate Jagat Majhi won Manoharpur Assembly seat by a margin of over 31,000 votes, having polled 73,034 votes at the end of 19 rounds of polling. His closest rival, AJSUP's Dinesh Chandra Boipal, polled 41,078 votes.

JMM candidate and Chief Minister Hemant Soren's brother Basant Soren has won the Dumka seat by a margin of over 14,000 votes, having polled 94,237 votes at the end of 21 rounds of polling. His closest rival, BJP's Sunil Soren, polled 80,010 votes.

Congress leader Keshav Mahto Kamlesh, speaking to news agency PTI, said that the alliance expects a bigger victory this time in Jharkhand as compared to the 2019 Assembly election results.

"We expect a bigger victory this year compared to the 2019 Assembly election... People are showing their faith in the guarantees that we have proposed for the upliftment of youth, women, and Dalit communities. The people have also shown their support for all the work that we have done here in the last five years under the leadership of CM Hemant Soren," Kamlesh told the reporters. (PTI)

JMM's Sudeep Gudhiya polled 80,887 votes to defeat BJP candidate Koche Munda by a margin of over 40,000 votes. Munda polled 40,240 votes at the end of 13 rounds of counting.

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) candidate and NDA nominee Janardhan Paswan, who polled 1,09,019 votes in total, won the Chatra Assembly seat by a margin of 18,401 votes. His closest rival, RJD's Rashmi Prakash, received 90,618 votes after all 27 rounds of counting ended.

JMM candidate Hemlal Murmu has won the Litipara constituency by 26,749 votes at the end of 15 rounds of counting, having polled a total of 88,469 votes. Murmu defeated closest rival, BJP's Babudhan Murmu, who polled 61,720 votes.

INDIA bloc candidate, CPI(ML)(L)'s Chandradeo Mahato won the Sindri Assembly seat by 3471 votes. Mahato defeated BJP's Tara Devi, who polled 1,00,827 votes at the end of 20 rounds of counting.

Congress candidate Kumar Jaimangal has won the Bermo seat by over 29,000 votes, polling 88,786 votes in total. Jaimangal defeated JKLM founder Jairam Kumar Mahato, who was his closest rival. Mahato received 59,689 votes at the end of 18 rounds of counting.

BJP's Kumar Ujjwal won the Simaria Assembly seat, defeating closest rival and JMM candidate Manoj Kumar Chandra, by 4001 votes. Ujjwal polled 1,11,906 votes at the end of 24 rounds of counting, while Chandra received 1,07,905 votes.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha candidate Deepak Birua has won the Chaibasa Assembly constituency by 63,998 votes at the end of all 21 rounds of counting. His closest rival, BJP's Geeta Balmuchu, polled 41,880 votes, as against his 1,05,878 votes.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha candidate Niral Purty clinched victory in the Majhgaon Assembly seat, by polling over 93,000 votes, and winning by a margin of 59,190 votes. Purty's rival candidate, BJP's Barkuwar Gagrai, polled 34,348 votes after all 20 rounds of voting were over.

JMM candidate Uma Kant Rajak won the Chandankiyari Assembly constituency by a margin of over 33,000 votes. After all 16 rounds of counting were over, Rajak had polled more than 89,000 votes. Meanwhile, his closest rival, JKLM's Arjun Rajwar, polled 55,727 votes.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha candidate Yogendra Prasad won the Gomia Assembly seat by a margin of over 35,000 votes, having polled 93, 759 votes in total after all 18 rounds of counting were completed. His closes rival, newly-formed outfit JKLM's Puja Kumari, polled more than 58,000 votes.

JMM candidate Stephen Marandi, who maintained a clear lead throughout the counting of votes, has won the Maheshpur Assembly constituency by a massive margin of over 60,000 votes, with all 16 rounds of counting completed. Marandi polled 1,13,843 votes, while his closest rival, BJP's Navneet Anthony Hembrom, received 53,278 votes.

Former chief minister Champai Soren's son and BJP candidate Babulal Soren is trailing by over 13,000 votes in Ghatsila, with eight rounds of counting left. JMM's Ram Das Soren, who is a minister in the outgoing Cabinet in Jharkhand, is in the lead and has polled over 62,000 votes.

BJP candidate Chandreshwar Prasad Singh, who has previously served as a minister in the Raghubar Das government in Jharkhand, is leading by a massive margin of over 40,000 votes in Ranchi. JMM candidate Mahua Maji, who has polled more than 12,000 votes, is trailing in the seat after seven rounds of counting, and 12 remaining.

In Jamtara, Sita Soren, Shibu Soren's daughter-in-law and late Durga Soren's wife, is trailing against Congress canddidate Irfan Ansari. Ansari, who has polled more than 64,000 votes with 11 rounds of counting remaining, is leading by over 33,000 votes.

Former MP and former CM Madhu Koda's wife, BJP candidate Geeta Koda, is trailing by a thin margin of over 500 votes, with nine rounds of counting remaining. Congress's Sonaram Sinku, who has polled 24,364 votes, is in the lead.

JKLM founder Jairam Mahto is trailing in both the Assembly seats he is contesting from. In Dumri, he is trailing by a slim margin of over 500 votes, with ten rounds of counting remaining, against JMM candidate and minister Bebi Devi. The latter has polled more than 42,000 votes till now.

In Bermo, Congress's Kumar Jaimangal is leading by over 17,000 votes, having polled more than 62,000 votes with five rounds of counting left. He is followed by BJP's Ravindra Kumar Pandey. Mahato, who has polled more than 37,000 votes, is in the third position for winning the seat.

JMM candidate and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana is trailing by over 3000 votes in Gandey Assembly constituency. BJP's Muniya Devi is ahead in the seat, having polled more than 42,000 votes with 13 rounds of counting remaining. Kalpana had won the Gandey seat in a bypoll earlier this year, after sitting JMM MLA Sarfaraz Ahmad's resignation.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has extended his lead by more than 14,000 votes against BJP's Gamliyel Hembrom. Soren has polled more than 32,000 votes after seven out of 20 rounds of counting have been completed.

Soren had contested from Barhait and Dumka seats in 2019, winning both. Following this, he vacated the Dumka seat, with his brother, Basant Soren, getting elected from there in the bypolls.

Congress's Rameshwar Oraon has taken a lead of over 11,000 votes in Lohardaga Assembly seat, having polled 37,334 votes after seven rounds of counting. With 11 rounds of counting left, his main rival, AJSUP's Neru Shanti Bhagat, has polled 25, 784 votes.

JMM leader and CM Hemant Soren's brother, Basant Soren, is leading by a slim margin of more than 800 votes in Dumka. His main rival, BJP's Sunil Soren, is trailing after eight rounds of voting.

NDA candidate and JD(U) candidate Saryu Roy has taken a considerable lead of over 16,000 votes in Jamshedpur West. His main rival, Congress's Banna Gupta, has polled 11, 371 votes after four rounds of counting .

Congress's Sona Ram Sinku is leading in the Jaganathpur Assembly constituency by a margin of 1000 votes. BJP's Geeta Koda, former CM Madhu Koda's wife, is trailing after five rounds of voting. Sinku is a sitting MLA from Jaganathpur and is looking to retain the seat.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren has taken a lead of more than 8000 votes from the Barhait Assembly constituency, having polled a total of 15,189 votes till now. His main rival, BJP's Gamliyel Hembrom, has polled 6987 votes.

JMM candidate Stephen Marandi is leading from the Maheshpur seat by a margin of more than 13,000 votes. His rival candidate, BJP's Navneet Anthony Hembrom, who has polled 16, 376 votes, is trailing.

Former Jharkhand CM, who jumped ship from the JMM to the BJP, is leading from the Seraikela seat by a margin of more than 8500 votes. Meanwhile, JMM's Ganesh Mahali, who has polled more 19,514 votes as of now, is trailing.

JMM candidate Rabindra Nath Mahato has taken a marginal lead of more than 800 votes from the Nala Assembly seat, against BJP's Madhav Chandra Mahato. Rabindra Nath Mahato is currently serving as the Speaker of the Jharkhand Assembly.

JMM candidate Uma Kant Rajak is leading in the Chandankiyari Assembly seat by a margin of more than 3000 votes. He is followed by Arjun Rajwar, from Jairam Mahato's newly formed outfit - Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha, who has polled 25,410 votes. BJP's Amar Kumar Bauri is trailing behind with 16, 120 votes.

Congress candidate Irfan Ansari, who has represented Jamtara since 2014, has gained a significant lead of over 13,000 votes in the constituency. Ansari is up against BJP's Sita Murmu, who is also the daughter-in-law of Shibu Soren, and wife of late Durga Soren.

In Potka seat, former Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda's wife, BJP candidate Meera Munda, is leading by a considerable margin of more than 17,000 votes. She is contesting against JMM's Sanjib Sardar, who won the Assembly constituency in 2019 by recording 43110 votes.

BJP candidate and former CM Raghubar Das's daughter-in-law Purnima Sahu is leading from Jamshedpur East by a margin of more than 8000 votes. Sahu is contesting against Congress's Ajoy Kumar. The Jamshedpur East constituency was earlier held by Raghubar Das, who was accused of campaigning for Sahu in violation of the propriety of the constitutional post he holds. In 2019, Das had lost the seat to BJP rebel-turned-Independent Saryu Roy by about 15,000 votes.

Former CM Champai Soren's son and BJP candidate Babulal Soren is trailing from the Ghatsila seat. JMM's Ram Das Soren, who is a minister in the current Jharkhand government, is leading from the seat by more than 3000 votes.

Former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren, who jumped ship from the JMM to the BJP, is trailing from the Seraikela seat. JMM's Ganesh Mahali is leading in the constituency by more than 2000 votes.

JMM candidate Deepak Birua is leading from the Chaibasa Assembly seat by a margin of more than 11,000 votes. Birua is contesting against BJP's Geeta Balmuchu. Birua has represented the Chaibasa Assembly constituency, located in West Singhbhum district, since 2009.

JMM's Dashrath Gagrai is leading from the Kharsawan Assembly seat against BJP's Sonaram Bodra. Gagrai, who is a sitting MLA, is ahead by a margin of almost 5000 votes.

JMM's Irfan Ansari is leading from the Jamtara seat against BJP candidate Sita Soren.

BJP's Sunil Soren is leading against JMM candidate and CM Hemant Soren's brother Basant Soren.

NDA candidate and JD(U)'s Saryu Roy is leading from Jamshedpur West, against Congress's Banna Gupta, by a margin of more than 3000 votes.

BJP candidate and former CM Arjun Munda's wife Meera Munda is leading from the Potka seat, by a margin of more than 6000 votes, against JMM's Sanjib Sardar.

BJP candidate Champai Soren is leading in the crucial constituency of Seraikela, located in the Kolhan region.

BJP candidate Sudarshan Bhagat is leading from the Gumla Assembly seat. Bhagat is a former Minister of State (MoS), having served as the Minister of Tribal Affairs in the Narendra Modi cabinet from 2017-2019.

Congress candidate Ramesh Oraon is leading from the Lohardaga seat.

BJP candidate and former CM Arjun Munda's wife, Meera Munda, is trailing from the Potka Assembly constituency.

BJP candidate and former chief minister Madhu Koda's wife, Geeta Koda, is leading from the Jaganathpur Assembly seat.

JMM candidate and Chief Minister Hemant Soren's brother, Basant Soren, is leading from the Dumka Assembly seat.

JMM candidate and Chief Minister Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana, who is a sitting MLA from Gandey, is leading from the seat.

BJP candidate and former Jharkhand chief minister Babulal Marandi is leading from the Dhanwar Assembly seat.

BJP candidate Sita Soren, who is also the daughter-in-law of JMM supremo Shibu Soren and wife of late Durga Soren, is leading from the Jamtara Assembly constituency.

JMM candidate Mahua Maji is leading from the Ranchi Assembly seat.

Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM candidate Hemant Soren is leading in the Barhait Assembly seat, while BJP's Gamliyel Hembrom is trailing.

Early leads show that the BJP-led NDA is ahead in 35 seats, while the JMM-led INDIA bloc in the state is leading in 25 seats.

In the early leads, the BJP-led NDA is ahead in 35 seats, while the JMM-led alliance is leading in 18.

In the Santhal Pargana and North Chhotanagpur regions, the JMM-led alliance had led in the 2019 Assembly elections. The JMM won 13 of the second phase seats in 2019, followed by its allies Congress, which bagged eight and the CPI(ML)L at one. Meanwhile, in the NDA, the BJP won 12 seats, its now regional ally ll Jharkhand Students’ Union Party (AJSUP) won two, and the erstwhile Babulal Marandi-led Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) that merged with the BJP in 2020, won another two seats.

In an interview with The Indian Express before polling for the second phase, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren had said that he was not nervous about the electoral outcome, adding that their "election campaign was based on the last five years of our work". "We worked responsibly for governance but the BJP was working in the top gear to crush us and it is that process that I was jailed," he said.

With counting for the Jharkhand Assembly elections underway, early leads show that the BJP-led NDA is ahead in 30 seats, while the JMM-led alliance is leading in 12.

The BJP pitched the polarising narrative of Bangladeshi infiltration in Jharkhand's tribal belt, particularly the Santhal Pargana region, and has projected former CM and ex-JMM leader Champai Soren, who is contesting from Seraikela, as one of the party's key faces. The INDIA bloc, especially the Congress, with its Dalit-tribal narrative, is hoping that it can prevent the shift of votes from these communities.

Out of the 17 seats for which very early trends have started coming in, the BJP-led NDA is leading in 13, while the INDIA bloc is ahead in five.

The Congress's lukewarm campaign in Jharkhand could be a cause of worry for its allies - with the JMM and RJD having already questioned the grand old party over its strategy. This is because senior leaders of the Congress have only taken their time out to campaign in states where the party has fielded candidates, leaving its allies out in the cold, skipping constituencies with JMM and RJD candidates.

The Congress is contesting 30 of the 81 Assembly seats in the Jharkhand elections, while Chief Minister Hemant Soren-led JMM hs fielded candidates from 42 seats. The RJD is contesting in six and the CPI(ML)(L) in three.

In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP won none of the 14 seats in the Kolhan region, comprising East Singhbhum, Seraikela Kharsawan and West Singhbhum districts. This led the safrron party to direct its pitch towards the tribal voters this time around.

However, an Indian Express report before the first phase shows that there are few takers for the 'love' and 'land jihad' pitch. Dakhin Hembram, a social activist who works with tribals, speaks for many in the Kolhan region of Jharkhand, as he questions the BJP’s election campaign centred around the issue of “illegal immigrants from Bangladesh”.

"The tribals lost their trust in the BJP when the Raghubar government tried to create a land bank (with the Acts)… For tribals, everything – their livelihood, identity and existence – is linked to land," he says.

As counting begins, early trends show the BJP-led NDA leading in four seats, while the JMM-led INDIA bloc in Jharkhand is ahead in three.

With both INDIA bloc and NDA promising social justice schemes in the campaigning for the Assembly elections in Jharkhand, the most pressing issues in the "coal capital" of the state remain the lack of employment opportunities, fuelling illegal mining and resultant fatal accidents, and the shortage of drinking water due to the diminishing groundwater levels in Dhanbad district.

"Tiger" Jairam Mahato's newly formed outfit - Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) - which has the the kainchi, or scissors, as its election symbol, is contesting on 71 seats in its Assembly election debut. Popularly known as “Jharkhand ka ladka", Mahato, a Kudmi OBC leader rose in the political scene earlier this year. His social media popularity and the fact that his community accounts for an estimate 15% of the state’s electorate, could play a key role in the polls.

The Jharkhand Assembly elections have proved to be a high-stakes one for prominent politicians in the state, with JMM leader and Chief Minister Hemant Soren trying to retain the Barhait seat and his wife Kalpana trying to do the same in Gandey. In the BJP, former CM Champai Soren will try to conquer Seraikela while Jharkhand's first CM, Babulal Marandi, is looking to gain victory in his home turf Dhanwar.

Several kins of former CM's are also in fray this time around - Madhu Koda’s wife and former MP Geeta from Jaganathpur, Arjun Munda’s wife Meera from Potka, former CM Champai Soren's son Babulal contesting from Ghatsila, and Odisha Governor Raghubar Das’s daughter-in-law Purnima Sahu from Jamshedpur East.

JMM leader and Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana emerged as a key leader in the party after the Jharkhand CM's arrest this January on corruption charges. A sitting MLA from Gandey, Kalpana is trying to retain the seat, particularly striking a chord with women across castes and communities.

One of the significant parts of the JMM campaign in the Assembly polls was the “Maiya Samman Yojana”, with Kalpana being the face for the scheme. The scheme gives women between 18 and 50 years old from underprivileged communities Rs 2,500 each month.

To break the INDIA bloc's stranglehold on the Adivasi seats in Jharkhand, the BJP, during its campaign for the Assembly elections in the state, has built a narrative alleging Bangladeshi infiltration in the state. Jharkhand, with a sizable tribal population that will play a crucial role in determining the victor, has 28 reserved seats accounting for a third of the total Assembly constituencies.

The tribal seats are what the BJP will look to crack this time, having lost ground in these in the Lok Sabha elections. While the BJP has focused on building a rapport with the community, the JMM has tried to retain its voter base and expand on it with social planks.

The incumbent government, led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, has pointed fingers at the Centre and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, alleging that they were responsible for the protection of the state's border regions and preventing infiltration. The JMM-led alliance, while citing the MHA affidavit on infiltration, claimed that it contradicts the BJP’s allegations and the government’s affidavits showing no infiltration in Santhal Pargana.

In the lead up to the Assembly elections in Jharkhand, the BJP had built a narrative in the state, alleging Bangladeshi infiltration in the tribal-majority Santhal Pargana region. The region runs across six districts and has seven Assembly seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Apart from this, the BJP has also alleged that the incumbent Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led government has also engaged in appeasement politics aimed at the Muslim community. The saffron party added that due to this, the tribal communities, especially women have suffered with “Bangladeshi infiltrators” allegedly marrying tribal women, buying land and usurping jobs meant for locals.

The party has said that the infiltration posed a "threat" to Jharkhand's identity as well as its demographics.

After the "unexpected" results in Haryana, Jharkhand will be a key state that the Opposition INDIA bloc will look to retain. The Opposition is desperately seeking for a victory to reframe its post-Lok Sabha poll narrative that the BJP is on the decline. It will also want to better its Lok Sabha performance in the state, which is a crucial one politically in terms of resources and heft.

The BJP, which performed better than the Opposition in the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year, hopes to continue the momentum in Jharkhand. However, the party's main concern are the tribal seats, having lost five in the general elections. Therefore, the saffron party is looking to consolidate its voter base outside of the tribal belts.

However, by winning Jharkhand, the party can try to reverse the perception that it acts against tribals by getting on board Champai Soren, a tribal leader who temporarily replaced Hemant as Chief Minister when the latter was in jail.