Jharkhand Exit Poll Results 2024 Highlights: Most exit polls predict NDA victory, Axis-My India says INDIA bloc ahead

Union Minister and BJP's Jharkhand election-incharge Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "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."

The Dainik Bhaskar exit poll predicts a hung assembly in Jharkhand, projecting 37-40 seats for the NDA and 36-39 seats for the INDIA bloc.

Chanakya's exit poll has predicted a majority to BJP-led NDA.

NDA: 45-50 seats

INDIA: 35-38 seats

Others: 3-5 seats

Peoples Pulse predicted NDA victory in Jharkhand by giving them 44-53 seats, INDIA is predicted to win on 25-37 seats and others might win 5-9 seats.

In Jharkhand, betting markets have predicted that the BJP will secure 45-47 seats. Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, local betting markets foresee a tight contest, with varying seat distributions among the major parties.

As per these predictions, the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance in Jharkhand is expected to win 32-34 seats.

Voter turnout of 67.59 per cent registered in 38 assembly seats till 5 PM in second and final phase of Jharkhand polls.

The second phase of the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections features high-profile contests. Chief Minister Hemant Soren is battling BJP’s Gamaliel Hembrom in Barhait. In Silli, AJSUP chief Sudesh Mahto faces off against former MLA Amit Mahto of the JMM.

In Gandey, the Chief Minister’s wife, Kalpana Soren, is up against BJP’s Muniya Devi. Meanwhile, in Jama, BJP candidate Sita Soren, daughter-in-law of Shibu Soren, is challenging sitting MLA Irfan Ansari of the Congress.

Jharkhand BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Wednesday claimed to have filed a complaint with the Election Commission against a presiding officer at booth number 111 in Madhupur, alleging favoritism toward Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate and state minister Hafizul Hassan. Dubey stated that the officer was arrested following his complaint.

"I raised the issue with the Election Commission, and they acted swiftly," Dubey told reporters in Deoghar. However, the Deoghar administration refuted the arrest claim, confirming instead that the officer was replaced after being observed too close to the voting compartment, violating Election Commission guidelines.

"During monitoring in the webcasting room, the presiding officer was found near the voting compartment, which constitutes a breach of rules and gross negligence," the administration clarified in a statement.

Over 61% voter turnout was recorded by 3 PM on Wednesday across 38 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand during the second and final phase of polling, according to officials.

Pakur registered the highest turnout at 69.31%, followed by Jamtara with 68.24%, Ramgarh at 66.02%, and Ranchi district at 65.84%. Dumka reported 64.79%, Deoghar 64.55%, Godda 62.91%, Sahebganj 60.08%, Hazaribag 58.16%, and Bokaro 56.38%.

Dhanbad saw the lowest turnout, with 56.32% recorded by 3 PM.

Since its creation from Bihar in 2000, Jharkhand has grappled with political instability despite its vast mineral wealth. The state has witnessed 13 chief ministers in 24 years, with only Raghubar Das completing a full five-year term. Political uncertainty has also led to three instances of President’s Rule.

Jharkhand has held five Assembly elections, but no party has ever secured an outright majority. The state’s two main political parties are the BJP and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

The high-stakes Jharkhand Assembly elections see the ruling INDIA bloc, led by the JMM, Congress, and RJD, pitted against the NDA alliance of BJP, AJSU, JD(U), and LJP. According to a Matrize pre-poll survey, the NDA is poised to claim a decisive victory, securing 45-50 seats in the 81-member Assembly, where the majority mark is 41.

The INDIA bloc is projected to win just 18-25 seats, with the remaining going to independents or smaller parties. As part of the NDA seat-sharing arrangement, the BJP is contesting 68 seats, AJSU 10, JD(U) 2, and LJP 1.

61.47 per cent voter turnout registered in 38 assembly seats till 3 PM in the second and final phase of Jharkhand polls.

In the 2019 Jharkhand Assembly elections, exit polls largely captured the political trend but fell short on precise numbers. The India Today-Axis survey projected 38-50 seats for the Opposition alliance, compared to 22-32 seats for the BJP.

Ultimately, the JMM emerged as the largest party, securing 30 seats, while the BJP garnered 25. The Congress followed with 16 seats, the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) managed 3, and the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) bagged 2.

The JMM formed the government with support from the Congress and the RJD, solidifying the Opposition alliance’s victory in the state.

Exit poll results for the Jharkhand Assembly elections will be unveiled shortly after voting concludes. Polling is set to end at 6 PM, with the first exit poll predictions expected to emerge by 6:30 PM.

Notably, according to Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, exit polls cannot be released until 30 minutes after the election concludes.