The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance, which includes Congress and RJD won an absolute majority in the Jharkhand elections by winning 47 seats in 81-member assembly. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha won 30 seats, Congress 16 and Rashtriya Janata Dal one seat. The alliance defeated the BJP which won 25 seats. Jharkhand has become the fifth state to slip out of the BJP's hand in the past one year. The victory has boosted the opposition's morale. Hemant Soren, who is likely to be the next chief minister, won from both seats he contested -- Dumka and Barhait.
Chief Minister Raghubar Das lost to party rebel Saryu Rai from his traditional Jamshedpur East seat by over 15,000 votes. Raghubar Das resigned and was asked to continue as caretaker chief minister by state Governor Draupadi Murmu. The state had a five-phased assembly election which concluded on December 20. JMM chief Shibu Soren said the alliance partners will meet soon to decide the next course of action.
Did CAA-NRC cost BJP the Jharkhand elections?
Local issues were dominant in the past elections in Jharkhand, but the last three-phases campaign was concentrated on the NRC and the CAA amid protests across India. Leaders raised questions over the new Act and the proposed NRC plan, which the ruling party replied to as much as possible.
Also Read: Six Reasons why BJP lost Jharkhand Assembly election
Sources have suggested JMM leader Hemant Soren is most likely to stake claim to form the government and take oath on December 27.
Now that the JMM-Congress alliance has won the Jharkhand elections, a JMM legislative party meeting is scheduled likely at 12 pm at party chief Shibu Soren's residence.