Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has rejected the Congress party’s request for the Deputy Chief Minister position, maintaining the status quo in the INDIA bloc’s power-sharing arrangement despite their sweeping victory in the state assembly elections. The alliance, led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and comprising Congress, RJD, and CPI(ML), won 56 of the 81 assembly seats, leaving the NDA trailing with just 24 seats, according to the Election Commission.
Senior Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay reportedly pushed for the Deputy CM post during talks with Soren, but the Chief Minister advised sticking to the pre-existing structure. Sources indicate Soren was firm in his stance, underscoring JMM’s dominant role in the alliance.
The JMM, helmed by Soren, emerged as the largest party within the coalition, securing 34 of the 43 seats it contested. Congress followed with 16 seats, while RJD and CPI(ML) added 4 and 2 seats, respectively. Meanwhile, the BJP faced a crushing defeat, unable to overcome voter trust in the ruling alliance despite a campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Hemant Soren’s leadership received further endorsement as he and his wife, Kalpana Soren, both won their constituencies decisively. Soren retained his Barhait seat, defeating BJP candidate Gamliyel Hembrom by a significant margin of 39,791 votes. Kalpana Soren, contesting for the first time, also secured a commanding victory.
The alliance’s triumph underscores the public’s confidence in the INDIA bloc’s vision for Jharkhand and Soren’s leadership, despite his recent resignation amid an ED investigation into money laundering allegations. The election results signal strong voter support for stability and development, reinforcing the ruling coalition’s mandate for governance in the state.