Sat Nov 23 07:31:03 UTC 2024: ## Jharkhand Assembly Elections: Turncoats Face Mixed Fortunes

**Ranchi, Jharkhand –** Early trends in the Jharkhand Assembly election results are revealing a mixed bag for politicians who switched parties before the polls. While most turncoats from the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) are trailing, those who defected from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or its ally, the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), are currently leading.

High-profile defections marked the lead-up to the election. Prominent JMM members, including former Chief Minister Champai Soren and his son Babulal Soren, switched to the BJP. Conversely, several key BJP figures, such as former MP Hemlal Murmu, joined the JMM or Congress, part of the INDIA alliance.

Champai Soren, however, is currently leading in his constituency, Seraikella, while his son Babulal is trailing. Other notable results include Sita Soren, wife of JMM leader Shibu Soren’s late son, significantly trailing in her contest. Similarly, Geetha Koda, wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda, who recently joined the BJP, is also facing a tough battle.

In contrast, several defectors to the INDIA bloc are currently ahead. Hemlal Murmu is leading in Rajmahal, Umakant Rajak is leading in Chandankiyari, and Janki Prasad Yadav is leading in Barkatha. Jaiprakash Patel, who moved from JMM to BJP and then to Congress, is also leading in Mandu.

The election, held in two phases on November 13th and 20th, saw a 67.74% voter turnout. The campaign was highly divisive, with the BJP accusing the JMM-led coalition of prioritizing power and money, while the JMM and Congress countered with accusations of BJP’s communal tactics and attempts to implement the Uniform Civil Code and a National Register of Citizens. The final results are still pending but these early trends suggest a significant impact from the pre-election party-switching on the outcome.

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