Outgoing Chief Minister Raghubar Das submitting his resignation to Governor Draupadi Murmu at Raj Bhawan in Ranchi on December 23, 2019. | Photo Credit: Satyasundar Barik

Ranchi

23 December 2019 07:30 IST

Hemant Soren to become Chief Minister again as his party wins 30 seats

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance on December 23 is on course to post a convincing victory in the Assembly election, handing a crushing defeat to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has lost another State after the recent setback in Maharashtra.

The JMM-Congress-Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) alliance is expected to cross the halfway mark in the 81-seat Assembly by comfortable margin. The JMM and Congress have won and extended leads in 46 seats — their highest ever tally since the formation of Jharkhand in 2000. The JMM is also emerging the single largest party with 30 seats, pushing BJP to second position.

Here are the updates:

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11.30 pm

Jharkhand votes for JMM-Cong. alliance, BJP tally slumps

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance on Monday is on course to post a convincing victory in the Assembly election, handing a crushing defeat to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has lost another State after the recent setback in Maharashtra.

The JMM, Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal crossed the halfway mark in the 81-seat Assembly by a comfortable margin. The JMM and Congress party also emerged victorious in 47 seats — their highest ever tally of seats won individually since the formation of Jharkhand in 2000.

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9.00 pm

Trends at 9 p.m.: Results of 58 seats of the total 81 have been declared so far. BJP has won in only 18, while the JMM/Congress/RJD alliance has won in 36 seats.

The AJSU party has won two seats and the CPI(ML-Liberation) one, the JVM-P one and the NCP one. And the trends show Independents leading in two seats and the JVM-P in two.

The JMM is leading in another 7 and the Congress 4. BJP is leading in another 7, according to the Election Commission.

8.10 pm

Raghubar Das resigns

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das resigned after the BJP received a drubbing in the assembly elections.

“I met Governor Droupadi Murmu and submitted my resignation. The governor asked me to be caretaker CM till the new government is formed, Mr. Das told reporters after coming out of the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi.

Mr. Das is trailing behind Independent candidate Saryu Roy by over 15000 votes in East Jamshedpur constituency.

The opposition JMM is all set to form the next government as ally Congress has already lent its support to him.

8.00 pm

Local issues played role in Jharkhand defeat: BJP

The BJP on Monday attributed its loss in the Jharkhand assembly polls to “local issues”, and said “internal strife” also appeared to have a significant impact in the state, where the JMM-Congress alliance is set to form the government.

Party spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said the BJP will analyse in detail factors for the loss in the state but added that the lack of an alliance against a united opposition also had a role.

“Inability of local leadership to convince the electorate for repeat of the mandate and internal strife within the party also appeared to have a significant fall out. A detailed analysis will be done,” he said.

BJP’s face in the state and incumbent Chief Minister Raghubar Das lost to party rebel Saryu Roy, who left the party after being denied ticket from Jamshedpur (West) seat. Mr. Roy contested the poll from the Jamshedpur (East), a seat held by Mr. Das five times, as an Independent.

“We have seen that local elections are increasingly influenced by the performance of the local government and local factors,” Mr. Rao said, referring to recent assembly polls in Haryana and Maharashtra besides Jharkhand.

As per the latest figures from the Election Commission, the JMM-led alliance appeared on course to win a majority in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly.

7.50 pm

PM Modi congratulates Hemant Soren

Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi congratulated Hemant Soren and the JMM-led alliance for the victory.

“Congratulations to @HemantSorenJMM Ji and the JMM-led alliance for the victory in the Jharkhand polls. Best wishes to them in serving the state,” he tweeted.

“I thank the people of Jharkhand for having given @BJP4India the opportunity to serve the state for many years. I also applaud the hardworking Party Karyakartas for their efforts. We will continue serving the state and raising people-centric issues in the times to come,” he said in another tweet.

7.30 pm

In Bagodar, Vinod Kumar Singh of CPI(M) won over Nagendra Mahto of BJP by a margin of 14,545 votes.

In Barhait, JMM’s Hemant Soren won over BJP’s Simon Malto by a margin of 25,740 votes.

JMM working president Hemant Soren also wins the Dumka seat, defeating BJP's Lois Marandi by a margin 13,188 votes.

In Bermo, Congress candidate Rajendra Pd. Singh won over BJP’s Yogeshwar Mahto by a margin of 25,172 votes.

6.35 pm

BJP respects Jharkhand mandate: Amit Shah

BJP president Amit Shah said his party respects the mandate of the Jharkhand voters, as it lost to the rival JMM-Congress alliance in the Assembly elections.

In a tweet, Mr. Shah also expressed his gratitude to the people of Jharkhand for giving the BJP a chance to govern the State for five years and asserted that his party remains committed to its development.

He also lauded BJP workers for their “untiring” efforts in the Assembly polls.

As per the latest trends, the BJP has won or is ahead in 25 seats while the rival JMM-Congress alliance appears set to win a majority of seats in the 81-member State assembly.

The BJP had won 37 seats in the 2014 Assembly polls. — PTI

6.05 pm

It’s my defeat, not of BJP: Rahubar Das

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das. File | Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena

Conceding loss in the assembly polls, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Monday said it was his defeat, not of the BJP.

As per the latest trends available on the Election Commission website, Mr. Das was trailing BJP rebel candidate and former minister Saryu Roy by over 10,000 votes in Jamshedpur (East) constituency.

“It is not BJP’s defeat, it is my defeat,” Mr. Das told reporters at a press conference in Ranchi.

The BJP contested 79 seats, supported an Independent candidate in one constituency and did not put up nominee against AJSU Party president Sudesh Mahto.

The saffron party’s Bihar allies — the JD(U) and LJP — contested the elections on their own and none of their candidates was leading anywhere.

5.10 pm

I am indebted to people of Jharkhand for clear mandate: Hemant Soren

Hemant Soren (R), chief ministerial candidate of JMM-led alliance, with father Shibu Soren on Monday, December 23, 2019 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Hemant Soren, chief ministerial candidate of JMM-led alliance, said he is indebted to people of Jharkhand who have given a clear mandate in the Assembly elections.

“This is an exciting day for Jharkhand’s people. Personally, this is the day for me to take a new resolve to meet the aspiration of people. The mandate is a result of the hard work done by Shibu Soren over the years. The time has come to address all outstanding issues for which the separate State was created,” said Mr. Soren, at his residence here on Monday.

“This is a new chapter in the history of the State. It will usher in a new era of development. I assure that I will not let anyone down. We will soon decide the next course of action,” he said.

“The grand alliance comprising of JMM, Congress and RJD have fought a united battle. I express heartfelt thanks to Guruji Shibu Soren, Sonia Gandhi, Laloo ji, Rahul ji and Priyanka ji and to all those who have reposed faith in me,” said Mr. Soren.

Hemant Soren rides bicycle at home to celebrate JMM victory

Hemant Soren celebrates victory in the Jharkhand polls by riding a bicycle near his home in Ranchi, Monday, December 23, 2019 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A jubilant JMM working president Hemant Soren on Monday celebrated his party’s winning spree in the Jharkhand Assembly polls by riding a bicycle at his home in Ranchi.

Mr. Soren even gave a photo-op to the waiting TV camerapersons and news photographers as he rode the bicycle in circles at his home.

The media waited for over half-an-hour as the scheduled press conference was delayed.

He also touched the feet and took the blessings of his parents - his father JMM president, Shibu Soren and his mother Roopi Soren.

"I am happy with the results", his mother told the waiting newsmen.

4.55 pm

People want to give vote on the basis of work, says Kejriwal

"Many, many, congratulations to Hemant Soren ji," Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said about Jharkhand election results.

Explaining BJP's performance, he said, "People want to give vote on the basis of work and they (BJP) didn't do work. Second, BJP's arrogance throughout the country.

"Thirdly, the last two phases, I think happened after CAA and NRC. BJP leaders had gone there and very aggressively talked about CAA and NRC in the last days. It feels like people of one state have given their conclusive decision that they don't want it," Mr. Kejriwal said.

4.35 pm

Mamata congratulates Hemant Soren

As JMM-led alliance takese early lead, media persons wait near the official residence of JMM leader Hemant Soren at Ranchi | Photo Credit: Satya Sundar Barik

Congratulating JMM leader Hemant Soren on the latest Jharkhand poll trends, which showed that the opposition coalition led by his party was ahead of the BJP, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said people have faith he would fulfil their aspirations.

Ms. Banerjee also said that elections were held amid protests over amended citizenship law and proposed countrywide NRC, and extended good wishes to the “brothers and sisters” of the neighbouring State for voting in favour of the JMM- Congress-RJD alliance.

4.00 pm

All non-BJP parties must rally around Congress to save Constitution: Chidambaram

After the JMM-Congress alliance in Jharkhand headed towards the majority mark, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Monday urged all non-BJP parties to raise their sights and rally around the Congress to save the Constitution.

“Dented in Haryana, Denied in Maharashtra, Defeated in Jharkhand. That is the story of the BJP in 2019. All non-BJP parties must raise their sights and rally around the Congress to save the Constitution of India,” he said on Twitter.

2.35 pm

Alliance will form govt in Jharkhand, Hemant Soren will be CM: Congress

JMM Supremo Hemant Soren (left), Congress leader RPN Singh (centre), Congress Jharkhand President Rameshwar Oraon (second right) and other RJD leaders address a joint press conference to declare seat sharing for the forthcoming Assembly election in Ranchi on November 8. | Photo Credit: PTI

Congress exuded confidence that the alliance will form the government with Hemant Soren as chief minister.

All India Congress Committee in-charge for Jharkhand, RPN Singh said, “We will form the government as we fought the elections for the people of the state by raising issues that affect their lives and livelihoods. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah tried to divert the attention of the people away from fundamental issues but the people did not get swayed.”

Reiterating that Hemant Soren of the JMM will be the chief minister as declared earlier, Singh said the Jharkhand results are a defeat of BJP’s “arrogance and diversionary tactics“.

Congress coordinator for Jharkhand polls Ajay Sharma said this is the defeat of BJP’s corruption and its arrogance.

BJP gave tickets to corrupt candidates whom the people rejected. The Congress kept the focus on people’s issues and articulated common man’s problems which the BJP failed to solve, Mr. Sharma said.

2.30 pm

Trends at 2.30 pm show the BJP is leading in 31 seats, while the JMM alliance is leading in 39 seats.

This means all is not over for the BJP. It still has hope to form a government with a post poll alliance.

2.25 pm

Jharkhand voters demolished ‘arrogance’ of Modi, Shah: NCP

As trends for the Jharkhand Assembly elections showed the Congress-JMM alliance ahead of the ruling BJP, the NCP on Monday said people of Jharkhand have demolished the “arrogance” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the saffron party president Amit Shah.

“The people of Jharkhand have demolished the arrogance of Modi ji, Amit Shah and BJP. Democracy has won,” NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik tweeted.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said as the BJP looks set to lose Jharkhand after failing to retain power in Maharashtra, it raises question whether people are now trusting the Amit Shah-led party or not.

“They (BJP) earlier told people they will play politics of development, but are now engaging people in sentimental issues to distract their attention from the real issues...They seem to have been hit by raising of issues like the NRC,” Kayande said.

Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut also hit out at the BJP, saying tribals and the poor people of Jharkhand have rejected the Amit Shah-led party. - PTI

2.20 pm

Incumbents poised to win

Nilkanth Singh Munda of BJP has established a clear lead of 27,354 votes over his rival Sushil Pahan of JMM. Mr. Munda won the last election by 21,515 votes.

Niral Purty of JMM is also leading by 31420 votes in Majhganon.

Alamgir Alam is leading by 23772 votes in Pakur. Veni Prasad Gupta is trailing here. Pakur witnessed heated campaigning with Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi holding public meetings.

2.00 pm

Biranchi Narayan, who won 2014 elections by a margin of over 72,000 votes is trailing behind Congress candidate Shweta Singh in Bokaro by 4105 votes.

Alok Kumar Chaurasiya, who is contesting on BJP ticket is leading in Daltonganj by over 19,000 votes. Mr. Chaurasiya switched to BJP from JVM(P).

1.45 pm

Tale of three candidates in Tamar

Kundan Pahan. file photo

Incumbent MLA Vikash Singh Munda is leading in Tamar. Former top naxalite Kundan Pahan is contesting from the seat.

Vikash Singh Munda's father was Ramesh Singh Munda, who was killed by Pahan allegedly at the behest of Gopal Krishan Patar.

Mr. Patar is also contesting from the same seat. He is the NCP candidate.

1.30 pm

Naresh Prasad Singh, an Independent candidate is leading in Bishrampur by 420 votes. BJP leader and sitting MLA Ram Chandra Chandravanshi is trailing here.

Similarly, BJP MLA Yogeshwara Mahato is trailing in Bermo. Congress candidate Rajendra Pd. Singh is leading by over 23,000 votes.

Champai Soren of JMM is also trailing in Saraikella. BJP's Ganesh Mahali is leading here.

1.15 p.m.

Now, Raghubar Das begins to trail

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das was trailing behind his Independent rival Saryu Rai by 771 votes in Jamshedpur (East) constituency as per trends available in the EC website till 1 pm on Monday.

Mr. Das, the BJP candidate, has secured 13,708 votes while Mr. Rai got 14,479 votes so far.

12.40 pm

Will Saryu Rai spoil Raghubar Das winning streak?

In Jamshedpur East, Chief Minister Raghubar Das is leading with just 156 votes. Saryu Rai is closely behind. Mr. Das won the seat with a margin of over 70,000 votes in 2014.

Saryu Rai won from Jamshedpur West on BJP ticket in 2014. A BJP veteran, Mr. Rai is well-known in the State as anti-corruption crusader. Denied a ticket, Mr. Roy chose to lock horns directly with Mr. Das.

Mr. Roy is credited with exposing scams that led to the conviction of at least three Chief Ministers — Jagannath Mishra, Lalu Prasad and Madhu Koda. This time Mr. Rai spoke about alleged corruption in the Das regime.

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12.30 pm

Labour Minister and BJP candidate Raj Paliwar is leading by 1,289 votes over his nearest rival Haji Hussain Ansari of the JMM in Madhupur seat.

Jharkhand Assembly Speaker and BJP candidate Dinesh Oraon is trailing by over 9,262 votes in Sisai seat.

12.20 pm

Congress workers burst crackers, distribute sweets in Delhi

Christmas seemed to have come early at the Congress headquarters on Monday with party workers bursting crackers and distributing sweets as trends for the Jharkhand assembly elections showed the Congress-JMM alliance ahead of the ruling BJP.

“People have voted for change,” Congress spokesperson Pranav Jha told reporters at the Congress office, anticipating a victory for the opposition alliance.

12.15 pm

Not correct to comment on trends: Raghubar Das

"These trends are not the final word. There are more rounds of counting to be held. It will not be correct to comment on these trends," Chief Minister Raghubar Das tells ANI.

The BJP is leading in 28 seats and has garnered 33% vote share.

However, the Congress-JMM alliance is giving a tough challenge to the BJP in the State. The JMM is leading in 24 seats and along with its allies, it is leading beyond the halfway mark.

12.00 noon

'Results not as per our expectations'

Babulal Marandi

Former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi told news agency ANI that the results were not upto his expectations.

"The results are not as per our expectation. We will have to accept people's mandate. We will play the role which people's mandate has given us. Let the results come, then we will sit and discuss what to do," he said.

The JVM(P) is leading in just four seats — Dhanwar, Mandar, Poreyahat and Simaria.

11.55 am

Kamlesh Kumar Singh of NCP is leading in Hussainabad by a slender margin of 316 votes. This means the BSP is trailing in all the seats it has contested.

11.50 am

As per the trends available at 11.30 am, the Congress alliance is leading in 40 seats, while the BJP is leading in 29.

11.30 am

Vijay Kumar of RJD is leading is leading in Chattarpur with 11885 votes. His nearest rival is Pushpa Devi of BJP.

Radhakrishna Kishore of AJSU has polled 2916 votes so far. Mr. Kishore, till recently BJP’s chief whip in the Assembly. When the BJP denied ticket, he joined AJSU Party to contest from Chhatarpur.

11.20 am

Rameshwar Oraon. | Photo Credit: Manob Chowdhury

Jharkhand Congress chief Rameshwar Oraon is leading in Lohardaga.

Mr. Oraon is a former IPS officer, who was former chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.

Mr. Oraon is pitted against BJP's Sukhdeo Bhagat, who was formerly a Congress MLA. Mr. Bhagat switched sides before election.

11.15 am

JMM+ leading in 42 seats

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha alliance is leading in 42 out of 81 constituencies, as counting of votes is in progressing in Jharkhand on Monday.

As per the trends available at 11 am, the JMM was leading in 25 seats, while its allies Congress and RJD were leading in 12 and 5 constituencies respectively.

The ruling BJP was leading in 28 seats. It's former ally AJSU Party was leading in three seats.

11.00 am

AJSU chief Sudesh Kumar Mahto is leading in Silli. Mr. Mahato, a two-time Deputy Chief Minister, after losing three consecutive elections in his hometurf, is trying his luck this time.

10.50 am

Vinod Kumar Singh of Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation) is leading in Bagodar. Sitting MLA Nagendra Mahto is trailing. The CPI(ML) won from Dhanwar in the 2014 elections.

This time, however, former CM Babulal Marandi is leading in Dhanwar.

10.40 am

Chandreshwar Prasad Singh of BJP is leading in Ranchi. Mr. Singh is the State Urban Development Minister. If he wins this time, it will be his sixth consecutive win.

Sitting MLA Anant Kumar Ojha is leading in Rajmahal.

Bhanu Pratap Shahi is leading in Bhawanathpur. His nearest rival is Anant Pratap Deo, the sitting MLA. Denied ticket, Mr. Deo contested as an independent.

10.20 am

While Hemant Soren continues to trail in Dumka, he is leading in Barhait assembly segment by 664 votes. Mr. Soren is the sitting MLA of Barhait, which is a stronghold of the JMM.

10.15 am

Neck-and-neck contest

Ruling BJP is leading in 22 of the 62 constituencies in the 81-seat Jharkhand Assembly, as per trends available at 10 am.

Opposition JMM is leading in 19 seats, followed by the Congress in nine, the RJD in five and BSP and AJSU Party in two each.

Among the seats that the BJP is leading are Baghmara, Barhi, Bishunpur, Dumka, Chandankiyari, Jamshedpur (West), Pakur, Panki, Potka, Simdega, Torpa, Hazaribagh.

The JMM is leading in Shikaripara, Gumla, Sisai, Chaibasa, Borio, Chakradharpur and Ichagarh seats.

10.05 am

In Barkatha, Independent candidate Amit Kumar Yadav is leading by 2489 votes.

Amit Kumar Yadav is the son of the late BJP leader Chitaranjan Yadav. He entered politics 10 years back when his father died soon after filing his nomination. However, things changes in a decade. This time the BJP chose to give ticket to Janaki Prasad Yadav, who switched from JVM.

An unhappy Mr. Amit Kumar Yadav contested the elections as an independent candidate.

10.00 am

The BJP is leading 17 seats so far. The party needs to win at least 42 seats to retain Jharkhand.

Sanjay Seth, Ranchi MP, exuded confidence that BJP will be crossing the half-way-mark on its own.

Sanjay Seth, Ranchi MP

Chief Minister Raghubar Das is leading by 342 votes in Jamshedpur East. The constituency is facing a three-way contest. Mr. Das is challenged by his former cabinet colleague Saryu Rai and Congress candidate Gourav Vallabh.

9.55 am

BSP leading in two seats

BSP's Rajesh Mehta is leading in Bishrampur by over 300 votes. The party is also leading in Hussainabad. The BSP had won Hussainabad with a huge margin of 27,752 votes in 2014.

9.50 am

Sanjay Prasad Yadav of RJD leads over Amit Kumar Mandal of BJP by 3,315 votes in Godda.

Menka Sardar of BJP leads over Sanjib Sardar of JMM by 5,144 votes in Potka.

9.48 am

Table changes in Dumka. The chief ministerial candidate Hemant Soren is trailing.

Minister Lois Marandi is leading by 3209 votes. It maybe recalled that Mr. Marandi is the sitting MLA of Dumka. He won the 2014 election by a margin of 4914 votes.

9.45 am

Namal Bixal Kongari of Congress is leading in Kolebira

Congress is leading in Lohardaga by a slender margin of 50 votes.

The party is also leading in Barhi, Bermo, Bokaro and Baghmara.

9.40 am

Veni Prasad Gupta of BJP is leading in Pakur

Alamgiri Alam of Congress and Veni Prasad Gupta of BJP are crossing swords in the assembly segment where Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi had held public meetings.

9.30 am

Trends at 9.30 am shows the Congress alliance leading in 6 seats, while BJP leading in 3.

Congress, JMM and the RJD are fighting the election together. They had already announced JMM chief Hemant Soren would be the chief ministerial candidate, if their alliance wins in the State.

9.20 am

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi of JVM (P) leads in Dhanwar seat.

Babulal Marandi was the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand. He was with the BJP then. In 2006, he quit the BJP and floated Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik).

Mr. Marandi is at a career turning point after losing four consecutive elections.

9.15 am

Lambodar Mahto of AJSU is leading in Gomia

AJSU Party candidate Lambodar Mahto leads over Babita Devi of JMM by 2,217 votes in Jharkhand’s Gomia seat.

All Jharkhand Students’ Union or the AJSU Party is part of the National Democratic Alliance in the Centre. They were in alliance with the BJP since 2000, when the State was formed. However, this time, they parted way and are contesting separately.

9.00 am

JMM working president Hemant Soren leads over State Welfare (Women & Child Development and Minority Affairs) Minister Lois Marandi after counting of postal ballots in Dumka seat, reports PTI.

8.20 am

As many as 22 political parties are in the fray for 81 seats in Jharkhand. However, the main contenders are the ruling BJP and the JMM-led alliance that includes Congress and RJD.

Initial trends in 38 out of 81 seats show BJP, JMM alliance going neck-to-neck with lead in 15 and 14 seats respectively, reports Satyasundar Barik.

This is based on postal votes. The counting of EVMs are yet to start.

8.00 am

Counting begins. Postal ballots are being counted.

Counting began at 8 am in all the district headquarters, the officials said.

Postal ballots will be taken up first and votes polled in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) will begin at 8.30 am, they said.

7.40 am

Polling officials waiting to enter the counting centre at Agriculture Produce Market Committee Campus, Pandra in Ranchi on Monday. | Photo Credit: Satyasundar Barik

In the outgoing assembly, BJP has 37 members. Later, six from JVM joined the saffron party taking the tally to 43, JMM (19), JVM (8 – reduced to two after six switching side to BJP), Congress (6 and two won in bye-elections) and All Jharkhand Students’ Union (5).

7.20 am

Ruling BJP keeping its fingers crossed

Stakes are high for BJP in Jharkhand especially after Maharashtra setback, where the party could not form the government. The party had launched the campaign with a tag line ‘Abki bar, 65 par’ aspiring to win 65 seats. But, going by exit polls results the target looks improbable. The BJP had won 37 seats in the outgoing assembly.

The incumbent Chief Minister Raghubar Das, who is the first Chief Minister to complete five year term, is keeping his fingers crossed for his own win from Jamshedpur (east) as well as party’s victory in the State. It is believed that his former cabinet colleague Saryu Rai and Congress candidate Gourav Vallabh have given a tough fight to him in the seat.

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7.00 am

Exit polls predict tight finish in Jharkhand

Exit polls predicted a close fight in Jharkhand, where the fifth and final phase of polling in 16 Assembly constituencies passed off peacefully on Friday.

All exit polls predicted that the BJP and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-Congress alliance were locked in a neck-to-neck fight while India Today-Axis My India survey gave a clear majority to the JMM-Congress alliance.

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6.50 am

Important Assembly seats

Both the BJP and the Congress alliance made their best efforts to lure the voters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed nine rallies each.

While former Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressed five rallies and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressed one rally.

The hot seat, which will be the centre of attraction on the counting day will be Jamshedpur East. Chief Minister Raghubar Das has been winning this seat since 1995. He is pitted against ex-Cabinet colleague Saryu Rai. Mr. Saryu Rai turned rebellion after his ticket was put on hold by the party.

The other important seats are Dumka and Barhet from where JMM Executive President and former Chief Minister is contesting. He is pitted against Social Welfare Minister Louis Marandi at Dumka.

Former Chief Minister and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajantarik (JVM-P) president Babulal Marandi is fighting from Dhanwar Assembly seat. The AJSU President, who lost the 2014 Assembly poll, is trying his luck again from Silli seat.

The exit polls indicate edge to JMM and Congress alliance.

BJP, however, is confident of returning to power.

“We will cross the majority mark. Wait till counting. People has reposed faith in five years governance” said Deepak Prakash, BJP general secretary to IANS.

JMM is anticipating the grand alliance’s victory.

“The grand alliance will certainly get majority. People are fed up with BJP government” said Vinod Pandey, JMM general secretary.

6.20 am

Santhal Pargana holds the key to Jharkhand poll outcome

With the intensely-fought Jharkhand Assembly elections drawing to a close, Santhal Pargana, a traditional stronghold of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, holds the key to the poll outcome.

Sixteen of the 18 constituencies in six districts such as Deoghar, Godda, Sahebganj, Pakur, Dumka and Jamtara, bracketed as Santhal Pargana, will vote in the last phase on December 20.

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(With inputs from Agencies)