Sat Nov 23 17:53:47 UTC 2024: ## Hemant Soren’s JMM-led Alliance Wins Jharkhand Assembly Elections in Landslide Victory

**Ranchi, Jharkhand –** Incumbent Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led INDIA alliance secured a resounding victory in the Jharkhand Assembly elections, winning 56 out of 81 seats. This marks the first time a single leadership has retained power consecutively in the state’s history and represents the JMM’s best electoral performance to date.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), suffered a humiliating defeat, securing only 24 seats – a significant drop from the previous election. The BJP, despite campaigning heavily with top leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, won only 21 seats. Their attempts to leverage issues like “Bangladeshi infiltration” and corruption proved ineffective.

The JMM secured 34 seats, while Congress won 16, RJD 4, and CPI(ML) Liberation 2. Key victories included Chief Minister Soren’s win in Barhait and his wife Kalpana Soren’s win in Gandey. Other notable wins were recorded by Nishat Alam (Pakur), Basant Soren (Dumka), and BJP state president Babulal Marandi (Dhanwar).

The JMM’s success is attributed to several factors, including the popularity of the Maiya Samman Yojana cash transfer scheme, which targeted women voters. Soren’s arrest and subsequent release on charges of money laundering seemed to generate sympathy, countering any potential anti-incumbency sentiment. Strong support from tribal and Muslim communities, considered the JMM’s core vote bank, also contributed to the party’s record-high vote share of nearly 24%. The BJP’s divisive rhetoric and internal party conflicts, including the defection of some prominent tribal leaders, are believed to have significantly hurt their campaign.

Several prominent figures lost the election, including the Leader of the Opposition and the wives of two former Chief Ministers. A new party, the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM), also emerged as a significant force, securing at least one seat. The results signal a significant setback for the AJSU, which suffered major losses.

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