Sat Nov 23 09:55:17 UTC 2024: ## Jharkhand Assembly Elections: INDIA Coalition Poised for Victory, Defying Exit Polls

**Ranchi, Jharkhand:** The INDIA coalition, led by Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s JMM, is projected to win the Jharkhand Assembly elections, defying pre-election predictions. While the BJP took an early lead in vote counting, the JMM and its allies – Congress, RJD, and CPI(ML) Liberation – staged a strong comeback, securing significant leads in key constituencies.

Chief Minister Soren expressed gratitude to the people of Jharkhand, declaring the coalition had passed “the exam of democracy.” While several key INDIA coalition candidates maintained substantial leads, including Soren himself in Barhait, his wife Kalpana Soren trailed in her contest. Similarly, Congress leader Banna Gupta faced a tough challenge in Jamshedpur West.

The RJD, a key INDIA coalition member, surprised many with strong performance, leading in five out of six contested seats – a dramatic improvement from their 2019 result. Several prominent BJP leaders, including some contesting on an anti-infiltrator platform, also trailed early.

Exit polls had painted a mixed picture, with some predicting a narrow victory for the NDA, and others giving the INDIA coalition a clear lead. However, the current trends indicate a decisive win for the INDIA bloc, potentially securing a two-thirds majority in the 81-seat assembly. The final results will determine the exact seat tally for each alliance, but the INDIA coalition’s performance is a clear upset to the pre-election forecasts.

Read More