In a stark contrast to its miraculous win in Maharashtra, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), suffered a major setback in Jharkhand. The INDIA alliance, spearheaded by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), emerged victorious in the Assembly elections, the results of which were declared on Saturday.
The INDIA coalition secured 56 of the 81 seats in the Assembly. The JMM bagged 34 seats, improving by four from its 2019 performance, while the Congress claimed 16. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and CPI(ML), also part of the coalition, achieved significant gains, winning four and two seats respectively, up from just one each in 2019.
In contrast, the BJP could only secure 21 seats, four fewer than that in the 2019 polls. Its key NDA ally, the AJSU Party, managed just one win out of 10 contested seats, with its president Sudesh Mahto losing his stronghold in Silli. Other NDA partners, JD(U) and LJP, each won a single seat, bringing the alliance's total to 24 seats.
A new entrant, the Jharkhand Krantikari Lok Morcha (JKLM), led by youth leader Jairam Mahto, won one seat but managed to disrupt the traditional voter base of both the BJP and AJSU, according to political analysts.
Notable victories in the INDIA alliance included Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Murmu Soren in Gandey and his brother Basant Soren in Dumka. However, Hemant Soren’s sister-in-law Sita Murmu Soren, who ran on a BJP ticket, lost in Jamtara.
Among BJP leaders, state president Babulal Marandi retained his seat, while former Chief Minister Champai Soren triumphed in Saraikela. On the other hand, former Chief Minister Arjun Munda’s wife Meera Munda and former CM Madhu Koda’s wife Geeta Koda faced defeats. Odisha Governor and ex-CM Raghubar Das’s daughter-in-law Poornima Sahu Das secured a win in Jamshedpur East.
At a press conference, Hemant Soren attributed the INDIA alliance's success to the people of Jharkhand. Posting a celebratory video on X, he declared, “Jharkhand has won,” and pledged to meet the aspirations of the state.
"You have played a vital role in strengthening democracy," Soren said, thanking voters and acknowledging their contribution to a historic election.
BJP state president Babulal Marandi congratulated Soren and his party on social media, calling the outcome unexpected but emphasising the need to respect the democratic mandate. He assured a thorough review of the BJP’s performance.
Political experts highlighted the “Maiyan Samman Yojna,” launched by the Soren government, as a key factor in the INDIA alliance’s sweeping victory. The scheme provided four instalments of ₹1,000 each to over 45 lakh women, gaining widespread support.
Conversely, the BJP’s campaign centred on “Bangladeshi infiltration” failed to resonate, particularly in tribal regions prioritising identity and basic amenities.
This marks the first time in Jharkhand’s 24-year history that any party or coalition has secured 56 seats, ensuring a stable government for the entire term.
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