Ranchi: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance retained power with a landslide victory, securing 56 seats in the state assembly elections. The alliance won 56 seats in 81-member assembly, while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had to settle for just 24 seats.
A majority required 41 seats in Jharkhand Assembly. BJP won 21 seats, emerging as the second-largest party in the state. JMM contested 43 seats and won 34, the highest ever for the party. Congress secured 16 seats, RJD four and CPI (ML) two.
Wave of sympathy among tribal voters
According to election analysts, both Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana created a wave of sympathy among tribal voters. Despite anti-incumbency sentiment, BJP failed to capitalise on it. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren thanked the people for the alliance’s spectacular performance, saying, “I thank the people for this spectacular performance. The party has passed the test of democracy.”
BJP co-in-charge for Jharkhand assembly elections and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed personal disappointment over BJP’s defeat, saying, “The defeat in Jharkhand is very sad for me personally, even though we won all five seats in the by-elections in Assam.”
RJD performed surprisingly well, winning four out of six seats. CPI (ML) won two out of four seats. LJP (Ram Vilas) secured one seat, and JD(U) won one out of two seats. All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) party won one seat in Mandu by a narrow margin of 231 votes.
Hemant Soren’s wife, Kalpana Soren, defeated BJP’s Munia Devi in Gandey by a margin of 17,142 votes. BJP state president Babulal Marandi won the Dhanwar seat by 35,438 votes, and former Chief Minister Champai Soren won Saraikela by 20,447 votes.
Major winning candidates
- Hemant Soren: The Chief Minister increased his victory margin in Barhet, defeating BJP’s Gamlial Hembram by 39,791 votes.
- Kalpana Soren: Hemant Soren’s wife defeated BJP’s Munia Devi in Gandey by 17,142 votes.
- Champai Soren: Former Chief Minister and BJP leader won the Saraikela seat, reserved for Scheduled Tribes, by 20,447 votes.
- Nisat Alam: Wife of former minister Alamgir Alam, she won the Pakur seat with the highest margin of 86,029 votes.
Major losing candidates
- Sudesh Mahto: AJSU Party chief lost Silli seat to JMM’s Amit Kumar by 23,867 votes. The party contested 10 seats but won only one by a narrow margin of 231 votes.
- Amar Bauri: Leader of Opposition came third in Chandankiyari, losing to JMM’s Umakant Rajak, who won by 33,733 votes.
- Banna Gupta: Congress leader and Health Minister lost Jamshedpur West seat to Saryu Rai of JDU by 7,863 votes.
- Biranchi Narayan: Former BJP chief whip lost Bokaro seat to Congress’ Shweta Singh by 7,207 votes, despite campaigning on development issues.
