The INDIA bloc is way past the majority mark in Jharkhand with Hemant Soren’s JMM leading the way to a possible victory in the state defined by a neck-to-neck battle with the BJP-led NDA.
As of 1:29 pm, the INDI bloc is ahead in 52 of Jharkhand’s 81 seats while NDA is leading in 29. Of the 52 seats, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is leading in 30 and Congress in 15. The majority mark is 41.
The INDIA bloc’s victory will mark a comeback not seen in recent times. Initial trends showed a close fight between the two alliances, but the INDIA bloc soon turned the tables and widened the gap between its leads to that of the NDA.
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It will also be a special victory for JMM’s Hemant Soren as it was his first election since he came out of jail. The chief minister himself is leading from Barhait assembly constituency. His wife Kalpana Soren, on the other hand, is trailing from the Gandey seat.
Champai Soren, who left JMM a few months back after Soren took back the post of CM from him, is leading in BJP’s ticket from the Seraikella constituency.
While exit polls had predicted BJP-led NDA’s victory in Jharkhand, the fight was shown to be tough. The saffron party was projected to win 40 out of the 81 Assembly seats while its opponent INDIA bloc was predicted to win 37 seats.
JMM has also outdone its 2019 Assembly result. Last time, the party won 30 seats, up from 19 in 2014. It focused its campaign on branding its welfare schemes like Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana. Its narrative on adivasi asmita or pride of tribals also drew voters closer to the party.
Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) emerged as a surprise element in the elections with its candidates leading in five of the six seats where it contested.
In 2019, RJD secured only the Chatra seat where its nominee Satyanand Bhokta won.
With inputs from agencies
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Jharkhand election results: Hemant Soren’s JMM, aided by Congress, set for a comeback; NDA trails
