Sat Nov 23 09:55:17 UTC 2024: ## INDIA Bloc Wins Jharkhand Assembly Elections, Defying Exit Polls

**Ranchi, Jharkhand:** The INDIA bloc, comprising the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has secured a resounding victory in the Jharkhand Assembly elections, surpassing the majority mark with a projected 57 seats out of 81. This outcome significantly contradicts several exit polls that favored the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

While the BJP took an early lead after the vote count began, the JMM, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, staged a strong comeback. Soren, contesting from Barhait, maintained a significant lead throughout the day. Other key INDIA bloc candidates also held substantial leads, including several JMM and Congress figures. However, Soren’s wife, Kalpana Soren, trailed in her contest.

The RJD delivered a surprising performance, leading in five of the six seats it contested – a substantial increase from its single seat win in 2019. Several prominent BJP leaders, including some contesting on an anti-infiltrator platform, trailed in early counts.

The majority mark in the 81-seat assembly is 41. Exit polls offered widely varying predictions, with some forecasting a narrow NDA win and others predicting a hung assembly. However, the INDIA bloc’s decisive victory clearly defied these projections. The JMM, confident of its performance, had previously claimed the BJP would struggle in a significant portion of the state’s districts. The final results confirm their strong performance and the significant gains made by the RJD.

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