GUWAHATI: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance emerged victorious in the Jharkhand Assembly elections, winning 50, and leading in six of the 81 seats. Meanwhile, the BJP won 19 and was leading in two seats, as the results were declared on Saturday, November 23.
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Chief Minister Hemant Soren secured a decisive win in Barhait, defeating BJP’s Gamliyel Hembrom by a margin of 39,791 votes.
The alliance, comprising the JMM, Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), performed strongly, as the JMM won 29 seats and was leading in five , while Congress won 15 seats and was leading in one. The RJD won four seats and the CPI (M) two seats.
Elections for the Assembly were held in two phases on November 13 and 20, with an overall voter turnout of 67.74%. The second phase saw a slightly higher turnout at 68.95%.
Prominent candidates in the elections apart from Chief Minister Hemant Soren, included BJP’s Babulal Marandi, and AJSU’s Sudesh Mahto. While Marandi had predicted over 51 seats for the NDA, Congress leader and Jharkhand in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir expressed confidence that the JMM alliance would secure a majority.
Jharkhand's political climate has been volatile, marked by Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s recent resignation and imprisonment, which led to Champai Soren temporarily assuming office.