Jharkhand headed for hung Assembly

Jharkhand was headed for a hung Assembly with the JMM emerging as the kingmaker as Congress and another state party gained an edge by leading in 23 seats in the 81-member House.

As counting of votes progressed, Shibu Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was leading in 20 seats and the BJP-JD(U) combine was ahead in 21 seats. JD(U) was ahead in one seat.

RJD headed by Lalu Prasad and its alliance partners led in eight seats, while others were leading in nine seats. The Congress is contesting the elections with Babulal Marandi-led Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM).

Union Minister Subodhkant Sahay, a senior Congress leader from Jharkhand, indicated that his party could tie up with secular parties to form a government.

He said in a coalition era many of the important players in the state are not an ally of BJP and they have said they were keen on forming a secular government.

As to who would head the government, he said commonsense approach would be that whichever party emerges the largest would stake the claim for the post. However, he final decision would be taken by the party high command.

In Delhi, BJP spokesman Prakash Javdekar claimed that his party was emerging as the single largest group. The party's parliamentary board will meet in the evening to decide on its strategy, he said.

The Congress has established leads in 12 seats and ally JVM-P of former chief minister Babulal Marandi in 10.

Independents, including former chief minister Madhu Koda's wife, Geeta are leading in nine seats.

The BJP-JD(U), Congress-Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (Prajantrik) and RJD, LJP, CPI, CPI(M) and Maoist Coordination Committee (MCC) are the three main alliances.

Of the 1,489 candidates, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, which had not entered into alliance with any party, had put up 79 candidates.

The Bahujan Samaj Party contested 78 seats, BJP 67, Congress 61, Rashtriya Janata Dal 54, AJSU 54, Trinamool Congress 37 and CPI(Marxist Leninist-Liberation) 33.

In 2005 assembly election the BJP had won 30 seats and JD(U) six, but at the time of the dissolution of the House the BJP had 21 and JD(U) 3 members respectively. The BJP's strength had decreased because of disqualifications and resignations.

The JMM had won 17 seats and its then alliance partner Congress nine.

The BJP in alliance with the JD(U) contested all 81 seats. The BJP  contested in 67 seats and alliance partner JD(U) in 14.