Ranchi: BJP is emerging as a clear winner in Jharkhand, leading in 41 seats while JMM was ahead in 21 and Babulal Marandi's JVM (P) in 9 seats and Congress in five seats each. According to early trends of the Assembly election results, BJP is leading in more than half of them while Shibu Soren's JMM and Congress, which were running an alliance government in the state are way back.
The indication from trends is that this election could give the state its first government with a single party majority since its inception in 2000. The state has been dogged by political uncertainty since its birth 14 years ago.
BJP, which contested 72 seats, has a pre-poll alliance with the AJSU party which contested eight seats and Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party, in one seat.
Opposition parties put up a divided fight with the alliance among JMM-Congress breaking before the polls and they decided to contest separately.
JMM contested on 79 seats, Congress contested in 62 seats, RJD in 22 and JDU in 11. JVM (P) contested alone.
Almost all the exit polls after the five-phase election had predicted a BJP win in Jharkhand. Chief Minister Hemant Soren was leading from both the seats he contested. Former chief minister Madhu Koda, accused of corruption, was trailing, officials said.
Another former chief Minister, Babulal Marandi, was leading in Dhanwar but trailing in Giridih. A total of 1,136 candidates fought the election.
