Jharkhand polls: Congress plus allies emerge single largest party; Soren emerges kingmaker

RANCHI - The results of the polls for the Jharkhand State Assembly elections has thrown up all sorts of possibilities with no single party in a position to form a government of its own in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly.

Shibu Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has surprised everyone by bagging 18 seats, and he could play the role of kingmaker.

The Congress and Babulal Marandi’s Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) has emerged as the largest political block, winning 25 seats. While the Congress has won in 14 seats , Marandi’s Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) secured 11 seats.

Marandi, a former chief minister exuded confidence that the Congress-JVM (Prajatantrik) alliance would form the next government in the state.

Congress Party spokesman Manish Tiwari was pleased with the verdict, saying the Congress is happy with its performance, and added that all options are still open for the party.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance could manage only 20 seats, including two of Janata Dal (United).

The RJD alliance group won just five seats.

The verdict has spelled doom for a lot of stalwarts, including senior Congress leader and deputy chief minister Stephen Marandi, who lost the Dumka seat, which he has won six times.

Senior JMM leader Sudhir Mahto lost the Icchagarh seat.

Senior Congress leader and Jharkhand Assembly Speaker Alamgir Alam lost the Pakur seat, while Jharkhand PCC chief Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu lost the Ghatsila seat.

Former union minister and Congress leader Rameshwar Oraon lost the Manikar seat. (ANI)