The counting of votes for the Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024 began on Saturday, with early trends showing a significant lead for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led Mahagathbandhan. Celebrations erupted at the JMM office in Ranchi as the alliance secured a comfortable lead, surpassing the majority mark in the 81-seat Assembly.

According to Election Commission (EC) trends, the JMM-led bloc is leading in 50 seats, with JMM ahead in 30, Congress in 14, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in 4, and CPI(ML) in 2. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising BJP, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), is leading in 30 seats, with BJP ahead in 27, AJSU in 1, and LJP in 1.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren maintains a lead from Barhait, while his wife, Kalpana Soren, trails in Gandey constituency, with BJP's Muniya Devi leading by 16,943 votes to Kalpana’s 12,350. Similarly, in Ranchi, BJP’s Chandreshwar Prasad Singh leads with 12,792 votes, while JMM’s Mahua Majhi trails with 3,773 votes.

Congress in-charge for Jharkhand, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, expressed optimism about the alliance’s performance, saying, “The results have started coming in. Figures will be out in the next two hours. We had said that the alliance will cross 50, and we can see the same. Congratulations to the public, workers, and everyone who strengthened our mission on the ground.”

State Congress observer Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka credited the alliance's governance, noting, “People have voted for us as the governance in the state is very good. Our leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi spoke about caste census and other issues. The people have blessed us, and we are forming a government with a comfortable majority.”

Congress state president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh highlighted the achievements of the alliance, stating, “We did better than other states during the COVID period. Migrants were brought back and provided for. Nobody trusted BJP’s local leaders or outsiders who campaigned here with empty promises.”

Meanwhile, BJP leader CT Ravi acknowledged setbacks in Jharkhand, saying, “We will have to conduct an internal introspection on why we lost there. However, we are getting a very good lead in Maharashtra, where the people voted for development.” Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, “We accept the results in Jharkhand. The over two-thirds majority in Maharashtra shows people rejected Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar.”

BJP MP Sanjay Seth expressed hope for a turnaround in Jharkhand, remarking, “The wave of change will grow stronger as the day progresses. Corruption, vote jihad, and the government’s failures over the past five years will lead to a BJP surge by noon.”

As the JMM-led alliance tightened its grip, sweets were distributed at the JMM office. Kalpana Soren, while trailing in Gandey, remained optimistic, saying, “Counting is still underway. The people of Jharkhand have chosen the path of development. Women are winning this time.”

With trends stabilising across all 81 constituencies, the JMM-led alliance is set to form the next government in Jharkhand, reaffirming its stronghold in the state.

Image source: Business Standard