Jharkhand’s ruling alliance, comprising the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the CPI-ML, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, is on course to retain power and, for the first time in the state’s history, is set to form a second consecutive government.
The alliance has taken the lead in 57 out of the 81 Assembly seats, according to EC figures, as of 2:30 p.m., surpassing the majority mark of 41 to cross the two-thirds mark.
The opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is leading on 23 seats, while the Jharkhand Loktantrik Kranti Morcha (JLKM) is ahead in one constituency.
This marks a significant milestone in the political history of Jharkhand, as no government has ever been re-elected in the state. In the 2019 elections, the alliance, under Soren’s leadership, secured 47 seats.
Soren, the incumbent Chief Minister, has maintained a lead of over 20,000 votes over BJP’s Gamliyel Hembrom after the 12th round of counting in the Barhait Assembly seat.
Former CM Champai Soren of the BJP is leading by nearly 29,000 votes against JMM’s Ganesh Mahali in Saraikela.
In Pakur, Nishat Alam, Congress candidate and wife of jailed minister Alamgir Alam, is ahead by 77,000 votes after the 16th round.
BJP’s C.P. Singh is set to secure his seventh consecutive win from Ranchi Sadar, leading by 23,000 votes in the 10th round.
Other leaders include Dr. Rameshwar Oraon (Congress) with a lead of nearly 30,000 votes in Lohardaga, Deepak Birua of JMM in Chaibasa with a margin of nearly 64,000 votes, Ram Das Soren (JMM) with over 16,000 votes in Ghatsila, and Dr. Irfan Ansari (Congress) with over 40,000 votes in Jamtara.
Trailing candidates include Congress’ Banna Gupta by 25,803 votes in Jamshedpur West to JDU’s Saryu Rai, JMM’s Mithilesh Kumar Thakur by 13,416 votes to BJP’s Satyendra Nath Tiwari in Garhwa, and Baby Devi (JMM) by 806 votes to JLKM’s Jairam Mahto in Dumri. In Latehar, JMM’s Baidyanath Ram trails BJP’s Prakash Ram by 491 votes, while Congress’ Deepika Pandey Singh is behind BJP’s Ashok Kumar by 1,657 votes in Mahagama.
With the counting of votes nearing its conclusion, the trends point to a historic victory for Hemant Soren and his alliance.
(Inputs from IANS)
