Jharkhand Exit Poll 2024 Live Updates: Hung assembly in Jharkhand? NDA ahead in neck-and-neck fight with JMM-Congress

Ex-Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda said: “This time, BJP will form the government with absolute majority. The people of Jharkhand are with BJP and have shown faith in us."

On exit poll predictions on Jharkhand assembly election, BJP candidate from Saraikela assembly constituency & former CM, Champai Soren says, "Exit polls are doing its job. We have gone to every Assembly constituency corruption is at its peak, unemployed people are disappointed, students are disappointed so the change is ensured"

On exit polls, JMM leader Manoj Pandey said, "Exit polls are just exit polls...but the actual results that are going to come will be shocking. We will 55+ seats look at the excitement of people, look at the increase in voting percentage. You (BJP) did not have a topic but we were moving forward with the issues of people."

" It is a clear mandate in favour of INDIA govt, Mahagathbandhan is going to sweep the elections. We are going to do better than previous time, there was great enthusiasm among the voters...there was a clear indication that BJP was no match, there was no contest...," says Congress leader Pranav Jha.

Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla has claimed the BJP alliance will get more seats in Maharashtra and Jharkhand than what was predicted by exit polls. "There is no confusion among the people that if the country has to be developed and the country has to be made a superpower, then only (PM) Modi Ji can make this difficult task possible, that is why the public is standing with him, " said Shukla.

State BJP president Babulal Marandi has claimed that the NDA would win over 51 of the 81 seats in the state.

"In the Lok Sabha polls, NDA had a lead on 51 assembly seats in the state. We are confident that NDA will win over 51 seats in the assembly polls," he told reporters.

BJP+: 45-50

JMM+: 35-38

Others: 3-5

According to Today's Chanakya exit poll, BJP-led NDA is likely to win 45-50 seats in the state while JMM-led alliance could win 35-38 seats. It said others could get 3-5 seats

A survey conducted by Delhi University's Centre for Global Studies (CGS) has predicted electoral victories for the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra and the NDA in Jharkhand.

On Jharkhand election exit polls, Union Minister and BJP's Jharkhand election-incharge, Shivraj Singh Chouhan told ANI, "Who can be a bigger surveyor in Jharkhand than us? We have been in Jharkhand for the last 3 months. We have seen how people wished for change. I am sure that the people have voted for BJP-NDA. We are going to form the government with a huge mandate."

BJP leader and former Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda said that people of the state have shown faith in BJP and expressed confidence that the saffron party will form the government in Jharkhand.

He was speaking to CNN-News18.

BJP+: 37-40

JMM+: 36-39

Others: 0-2

JMM candidate from Ranchi Mahua Maji said that the party does not trust exit polls. She also expressed confidence in INDIA alliance’s victory in the Jharkhand Assembly polls.

“We don't trust exit polls. You saw what happened in Lok Sabha polls...INDIA alliance will form the government in Jharkhand,” she told ANI.

Seat share projection:

BJP+: 17-27

JMM-Cong+: 49-59

JLKM: 1-4

Others: 0-2

Total seats: 81, Majority mark: 41

The BJP-led NDA is expected to sweep Jharkhand if exit polls are to be believed. The state saw a high-decibel campaign during which the NDA launched attacks on the ruling JMM over alleged infiltration from Bangladesh and corruption of leaders.

Seat share projection:

BJP+: 40-44

JMM-Cong+: 30-40

Total seats: 81, Majority mark: 41

Peoples Pulse has also predicted NDA victory in Jharkhand.

NDA: 44-53

INDIA: 25-37

Others: 5-9

NDA: 47

INDIA: 30

Others: 4

After voting concluded in Jharkhand, chief minister Hemant Soren thanked the people of the state for coming out in large numbers and voting.

"This great festival of democracy on the holy land of Jharkhand was wonderful. In both the phases, the people of the state have expressed their aspirations and hopes through voting. This is not just an election, but a resolution to build a new, prosperous and strong Jharkhand," he wrote on X.

"We firmly pledge that we will realise the sacrifice of the immortal brave martyrs, fulfill the dreams of the great revolutionaries, give concrete form to the aspirations of the agitators and together we will create a new, golden Jharkhand," the chief minister added.

"On this auspicious occasion, I bow down to each voter, to the dutiful polling officials, to the dedicated workers of JMM and INDIA Alliance, and to the workers of all political parties who have strengthened democracy. Jharkhand is winning and will win," he stated.

Exit polls and opinion polls are tools to assess voter behaviour and election trends, but they differ significantly in timing and purpose.

Exit polls are conducted immediately after voters have cast their ballots, typically outside polling stations. However, exit polls offer real-time insights and they may be subject to a margin of error.

Apart from Jharkhand, the poll predictions for Maharashtra will also be released today. Maharashtra voted in a single phase on November 20.

For all the latest developments on Maharashtra exit poll results, click here

The patchy record of the exit polls was raised by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar in October when he announced the schedule of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections.

The CEC said exit polls were creating a huge distortion by raising expectations that do not match the actual election results. He also termed the practice of news channels showing early leads even before the start of vote counting as "nonsense".

About 68 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm on Wednesday in 38 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand where voting in the second and final phase ended.

The highest turnout of 76.16 per cent was witnessed in Jamtara district, followed by 75.88 per cent in Pakur, 72.46 per cent in Deoghar and 72.01 per cent in Ranchi.

Ramgarh registered a turnout of 71.98 per cent, Dumka 71.74 per cent, Godda 67.24 per cent, Sahebganj 65.63 per cent, Giridih 65.89 per cent, Hazaribag 64.41 per cent and Dhanbad 63.39 per cent.

The lowest turnout was recorded in Bokaro district at 60.97 per cent till 5 pm.

Voting for the second and final phase of Jharkhand Assembly polls has concluded with the state recording a turnout of about 68 per cent till 5pm.

Polling began at 7 am in 14,218 booths across 12 districts and continued till 5 pm.

BJP Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) alleging that a presiding officer showed favoritism toward a ruling party candidate during voting in Jharkhand's Madhupur assembly constituency on Wednesday.

Dubey claimed that following his complaint, the officer was arrested.

However, the Deoghar administration said the officer, identified as Ramanand Kumar Paswan, was replaced after being found too close to the voting compartment, which is against Election Commission rules.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said that the NDA, under the leadership of the BJP, is certain to win in both Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly polls.

“The victory of NDA under the leadership of BJP is certain... In both Maharashtra and Jharkhand, people have expressed their trust in the leadership of PM Modi. Mahayuti will get absolute majority which can go up to 175 and NDA will also get a huge lead in Jharkhand,” he told ANI.

-Former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren is contesting from Saraikella assembly constituency

-Soren, who was earlier associated with JMM, had joined the BJP this year

-He was the chief minister of Jharkhand for 153 days since Hemant Soren was arrested by the ED in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam case.

-Soren took the chair after returning from the jail and a displeased Champai Soren later joined the BJP just days later. Champai alleged he was being humiliated by the JMM

-The key candidates from the seat are Champai Soren and JMM’s Ganesh Mahali

The Congress party will not participate in the exit polls to be telecast today after the completion of the election process, news agency ANI reported citing party sources.

The exit poll predictions will start coming in today soon after the conclusion of voting in both Jharkhand and Maharashtra.

In the 2019 Jharkhand Assembly elections, the JMM-led alliance secured a majority by winning 47 seats. The JMM won 30 seats, the Congress bagged 16, and the RJD won 1.

The majority mark in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly is 41.

People have chosen the path of development and they are casting their votes, said JMM’s Kalpana Soren, the wife of chief minister Hemant Soren. Her remarks came amid the ongoing second phase of polling in Jharkhand.

She said she was grateful towards the people of Gandey, where she is contesting from. Kalpana is contesting from the Gandey Assembly constituency against BJP’s Muniya Devi.

Over 61 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 3 PM on Wednesday in 38 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand where voting is underway in the second and final phase, officials said.

The highest voting turnout of 69.31 per cent was reported from Pakur, followed by 68.24 per cent from Jamtara, 66.02 per cent from Ramgarh and 65.84 per cent from Ranchi district.

Dumka recorded a turnout of 64.79 per cent, Deoghar 64.55 per cent, Godda 62.91 per cent, Sahebganj 60.08 per cent, Hazaribag 58.16 per cent and Bokaro 56.38 per cent.

The lowest turnout was recorded in Dhanbad at 56.32 per cent till 3 pm.

-Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren is contesting from Gandey Assembly constituency. Her main rival is BJP’s Muniya Devi

-Kalpana Soren emerged as winner in the 2024 assembly by-election

-In the 2019 polls, Sarfaraz Ahmad from JMM emerged victorious with 65,023 votes

-In 2014, Jai Prakash Verma of the BJP won this seat.

-The Barhait Assembly constituency is seeing a contest between Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and state chief minister Hemant Soren and BJP’s Gamliyel Hembrom

-Hemant Soren is seeking a third consecutive win from the seat. He won the seat both in 2019 as well as 2014

-It is one of the six assembly constituencies in the Sahibganj district of Jharkhand and is a bastion of the JMM

-In the 2019 polls, Hemant Soren defeated Simon Malto of the BJP and in 2014, he defeated BJP leader Hemlal Murmu

Polling is currently being held for 38 Assembly seats in Jharkhand in the second phase of elections. The first phase of elections was held on November 13.

Voting began at 7 am in 14,218 booths across 12 districts and will continue till 5 pm.

The state saw a voter turnout of 47.92 per cent till 1 pm, according to the Election Commission (EC).

Exit poll predictions will start coming in from 6:30 pm onwards. They will be streamed live across all the key media outlets in the country.

The predictions of Jharkhand and Maharashtra polls will also be aired on all the channels of Network18. For all the latest updates on elections and political analysis by experts, watch CNN-News18 and its channels across Network18.

You may also find all the information related to elections as well as Exit Poll numbers at www.news18.com or www.moneycontrol.com.

Barhait: Incumbent chief minister Hemant Soren and a member of JMM is up against BJP’s Gamaliyel Hembrom. Soren had won from the seat both in 2019 as well as 2014.

Gandey: Hemant Soren’s wife and JMM candidate Kalpana Soren is contesting against BJP’s Muniya Devi. In the 2024 assembly by-election, Kalpana Soren won the seat with 1,09,827 votes, defeating BJP’s Dilip Verma.

Dumka: The key contest in this constituency is between JMM’s Basant Soren and BJP’s Sunil Soren. Basant Soren had won the seat in 2020 Assembly by-election with 80,559 votes.

Ranchi: Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji of JMM is contesting against BJP incumbent CP Singh on this seat.

Dhanwar: Incumbent MLA Babulal Marandi is contesting on BJP ticket against JMM’s Nizam Uddin Ansari.

Jamtara: BJP’s Sita Soren is contesting against Congress’s Irfan Ansari. Sita Soren is the daughter-in-law of Jharkhand politician Shibu Soren and sister-in-law of chief minister Hemant Soren.

Jharkhand, which came into existence in 2000, has seen 13 chief ministers in just 24 years, signalling the political instability in the state.

Of the seven chief ministers, who have led the state, only Raghubar Das completed a full five-year term without interruption. There have also been three different instances of President’s Rule in the state.

Read here to know more about the volatile political history of the state

A survey by Matrize agency has found that the BJP-led NDA is on track to register an emphatic victory in the Jharkhand Assembly polls, winning 45-50 seats in the 81-member House.

As per the findings of the survey, the INDIA bloc is likely to be limited to victories in 18-25 seats in an Assembly where the majority mark stands at 41 seats.

The state saw a political turmoil this year after chief minister Hemant Soren had to resign due to his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to alleged land fraud.

JMM appointed Champai Soren as the chief minister in Hemant’s absence. The Champai Soren government managed to survive a floor test after Hemant’s arrest.

However, Champai had to vacate the CM’s chair after Hemant was released on bail. Later, Champai moved to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after Hemant Soren was sworn in as the 13th chief minister.

The state of Jharkhand is witnessing a key clash between the ruling JMM-Congress led alliance and the BJP-led NDA.

The BJP is hopeful of returning to power once again on the back of the achievements on the Soren government and solidifying support from tribal voters. BJP is hopeful of returning to the state after a strong show in the Haryana Assembly polls.

The exit poll predictions are based on voter feedback collected by agencies after polling. It aims to give a general sense of the public sentiment before the actual results are announced. However, these are only predictions, and therefore has several times faced scrutiny in the past.

In 2019, most exit polls had predicted a setback for the BJP and a lead for the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance in the 81-member House. While the India Today-Axis survey predicted 38-50 seats for the Opposition alliance, it gave 22-32 seats to the BJP.

The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance managed to secure a victory in the 2019 Assembly polls.

The Election Commission (EC) has prohibited TV channels to release exit poll predictions until after voting concludes in both Jharkhand and Maharashtra.

The exit poll predictions therefore will be released after 6 pm post the conclusion of voting in both the states.