Chief Minister Hemant Soren, leading in Barhait by over 17,000 votes, celebrated early trends alongside his family at home. The JMM leader’s likely return to power has sparked jubilant celebrations among party workers, with supporters taking to the streets of Ranchi to mark the INDIA bloc’s strong performance.
Meanwhile, his wife, Kalpana Soren, contesting from Gandey, is trailing. The JMM’s campaign, centered on tribal welfare and fueled by public sympathy for Soren following his arrest earlier this year, has evidently resonated with voters, solidifying the alliance’s lead in the state.
Party-Wise Trends:
| Party | Won | Leading | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) | 0 | 33 | 33 |
| Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) | 0 | 22 | 22 |
| Indian National Congress (INC) | 0 | 16 | 16 |
| Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation) – CPI(ML)(L) | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJPRV) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Congress observer Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka expressed confidence, stating, “The results are good. The people have voted for us as the governance in the state has been strong. Our leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi raised key issues like the caste census. The people of Jharkhand have blessed us, and we will comfortably form the government.”
Tariq Anwar, another Congress observer, added, “We expected to secure even more seats, but we are happy with the results so far. This reflects the public’s trust in our governance and the work done for them.”
The voting was conducted in two phases in the state, on November 13 and 20. The final phase of polling, which concluded on November 20, saw a robust voter turnout across the state, especially in tribal areas. A total of 528 candidates contested the elections, including prominent figures such as Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren, and BJP Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri.
The INDIA alliance, comprising JMM, Congress, RJD, and CPI(ML), centered its campaign on welfare programs, while the NDA focused on issues like Hindutva, corruption allegations, and concerns about cross-border infiltration.
