Sat Nov 23 10:27:30 UTC 2024: ## JMM-Led Coalition Projected to Retain Power in Jharkhand Assembly Elections

**Ranchi, Jharkhand –** The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) led coalition is projected to retain power in Jharkhand after the state assembly election results began to trickle in on November 23rd. Early trends show the ruling JMM and its allies, the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), leading on a significant number of seats.

As of the latest updates, the JMM is projected to win around 33 seats, Congress 16-17 and RJD 5, giving the coalition a clear majority in the 81-member assembly. The BJP-led NDA is trailing significantly, with projections showing them ahead in around 28 seats. The BJP’s campaign focused on addressing concerns about infiltration in the Santhal Pargana region, but this appears to have been overshadowed by the JMM’s focus on tribal issues and public sympathy generated following Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s arrest earlier this year.

Several key figures are also seeing success in early projections. Chief Minister Hemant Soren is projected to win his seat comfortably, while his wife, Kalpana Soren, is in a close contest in the Gandhi Assembly seat. The RJD, surprisingly, is showing strength, leading in five out of the six seats it contested.

While the JMM-led coalition celebrates its projected victory, the mood at the Congress headquarters is reportedly somber following a significant defeat in the Maharashtra assembly elections. This dampens some of the celebratory atmosphere surrounding the Jharkhand results.

The counting of votes began at 8:00 AM on November 23rd, with the final results expected later in the day. The election, held in two phases on November 13th and 20th, saw a tight contest between the JMM-led alliance and the BJP-led NDA. As the day progresses, the final seat counts will solidify the outcome of this closely-watched state election.

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