Early trends show Cong-JMM-RJD leading in 37 seats, BJP in 29 in Jharkhand

The counting of votes in Jharkhand began on Monday morning at 8 am where the ruling BJP is contesting alone while the Congress is contesting the polls in alliance with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) as a junior partner.

Early trends in the counting of votes showed Congress-JMM-RJD alliance leading in 37 seats, while BJP leading in 29 seats in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly on Monday. The voting for the state elections were held in five phases from November 30 to December 20. A party or an alliance needs at least 41 seats to form the state government.

The All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), are also in the fray and contesting on their own.

While the Congress-JMM alliance is banking on tribal anger to romp home and have been attacking the Raghubar Das government for being corrupt, the BJP, on its part, focused its campaign around nationalism, triple talaq and Ram Mandir.

The Exit polls have predicted a hung House in the 81-member assembly but have given the Cong-JMM alliance an edge over the BJP.