New Delhi:
Maharashtra saw a saffron wave as the BJP-led Mahayuti decimated the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi in state elections while INDIA bloc held its fortress in Jharkhand. Bypoll results were also declared for 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats.

Here are the top 10 points in this big story:

New Delhi:

In a light grey sports sweatshirt, flanked by party leaders in more formal attire, Hemant Soren announced in a rather slow, conversational tone the victory of his party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and its alliance in the assembly election.

The grouping, known as INDIA, comprising the JMM, Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, crossed the halfway mark comfortably and managed to keep ‘Fort Jharkhand’ safe from the approaching forces of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which has a reputation as an election-winning machine.

“I heard Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has congratulated us. I want to thank him,” said the Jharkhand Chief Minister who was recently jailed in a land case, a matter which the JMM alleged was the Centre’s conspiracy to harass rivals using investigative agencies.

“All of you know it is a hard-won victory after the battle between INDIA and the NDA,” Mr Soren told reporters this evening. “The people have taken a huge, responsible decision in ensuring the state remains strong. Many first-time voters participated, and I thank them for their support.”

He thanked the youth, farmers, women, workers and people from all sections of society for “keeping faith in us”.

Mr Soren, who quit as Chief Minister before he was jailed, took over the top post after he was released.

Earlier today, as counting of votes began, the numbers for the NDA or the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra looked good. In the north in Jharkhand, over 1,300 km away, the NDA also appeared to be leading. However, within a span of minutes as more trends came, Mr Soren’s JMM and its allies galloped ahead.

By evening, the trends clearly cemented INDIA’s sure win in Jharkhand, where tribal votes can make or break the chances of national parties.

“How’s the josh?” the JMM’s official handle posted on X, alluding to the phenomenal chase and eventual overtaking of the NDA’s numbers.

New Delhi:

The “None of the Above” (NOTA) option had minimal impact in the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections. According to Election Commission (EC) data, only 0.75 per cent of voters in Maharashtra and 1.32 per cent in Jharkhand chose NOTA over the listed candidates.

The voter turnout, however, was robust in both states. Maharashtra recorded a 65.02 per cent turnout in its single-phase election on November 20, while Jharkhand’s turnout reached 66.65 per cent and 68.45 per cent across its two phases on November 13 and 20, respectively.

Introduced in 2013 following a Supreme Court directive, NOTA offers voters an option to reject all candidates while maintaining ballot secrecy, an improvement over the earlier Form 49-O system. Despite its availability, the feature has remained a fringe choice, with less than 2 per cent of voters consistently opting for it in recent elections.

In Maharashtra, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is set to retain power, delivering a blow to the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition. The opposition MVA, comprising Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), and Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction), trailed far behind. 

Prominent BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar, were leading in their respective constituencies. Senior Congress figures such as Nana Patole, Prithviraj Chavan, and Balasaheb Thorat were trailing.

In Jharkhand, Hemant Soren’s JMM-led alliance appeared poised to retain power, leading in 56 of the 81 assembly seats as per the latest EC data. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) performed below expectations, leading in just 23 constituencies.

The JMM’s campaign, which focused on tribal identity and invoked public sympathy following Mr Soren’s legal troubles, resonated with voters, particularly in regions like Santhal Parganas. The BJP’s focus on issues such as “infiltrators” seemed to falter in comparison.

New Delhi:

The Jharkhand Assembly elections results, set to be announced today, promise a tense outcome as exit polls show sharply divided projections. The elections concluded on Wednesday with voting spread across two phases for 81 seats.

The first phase saw voting in 43 constituencies, while the second phase saw 38 seats up for grabs. Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), leading the ruling INDIA alliance, faces a fierce challenge from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which includes the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United), and the BJP.

Exit polls point to a narrow race with varying predictions. According to Matrize, the NDA is poised to win 42-47 seats, leaving the JMM-led alliance with 25-30 seats. Meanwhile, the TimesNow-JVC survey forecasts 40-44 seats for the NDA, with the INDIA bloc securing 30-40 seats.

The most definitive projections come from People’s Pulse, which predicts a clear win for the NDA, with 42-48 seats compared to the JMM’s 16-23 seats. AJSU is expected to secure a few seats in this scenario. However, Axis My India and P Marq offer a contrasting view, giving the JMM-led INDIA bloc a commanding 49-59 and 37-47 seats respectively, while the NDA is projected to fall far behind.

The only agency forecasting a hung assembly is Dainik Bhaskar, suggesting that both alliances will settle between 36-40 seats, just short of the majority mark of 41.

Despite exit polls giving NDA the edge, the JMM is confident of forming government again under the leadership of Hemant Soren, with a two-thirds majority. The JMM claimed that the BJP would even struggle to make a mark in 11 of the state’s 24 districts.

“After the counting of votes on November 23, our government will return with a new mandate and with a focus on public good,”  JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said. 

Key constituencies under scrutiny include Barhait, where Hemant Soren faces a tough battle. BJP’s Babulal Marandi will also be contesting from Dhanwar. Bebi Devi (INDIA bloc) is a contender in Dumri while Kalpana Soren (JMM), Hemant Soren’s wife, represents Gande. In Jamtara, Congress leader Dr Irfan Ansari faces off against Sita Soren of the JMM, making it one of the most anticipated contests.