‘BJP will be reduced to 7-8 seats in Jharkhand,’ says Congress' Rakesh Sinha | VIDEO

Ranchi: As counting began on Saturday for the 2024 Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly Elections, along with bypoll results from 15 states, Congress leader Rakesh Sinha expressed strong confidence that the results would favour the 'Mahaghathbandhan' alliance.

Sinha claimed that the BJP would be reduced to just 7-8 seats in Jharkhand, stating that the people of the state would not support a party known for slogans like “Batoge toh Katoge” (You will suffer if you share power). He added that despite the BJP's efforts to undermine the state through tactics like "Operation Lotus" and interventions from agencies such as the ED, Income Tax Department, and CBI, the people of Jharkhand had shown resilience and would reject such politics. "The results will come in our favour. People have shown their support, love and blessings to the candidates of 'Mahaghathbandhan'. The public in Jharkhand has said that they are not going to accept people like those who raise slogans like 'Batoge toh Katoge,’” he said.

"The BJP used to claim in the Lok Sabha that they will get 400 seats. The situation is that the government is running on crutches. BJP will be reduced from 7-8 seats in Jharkhand. There will be no need for a resort. This soil of Jharkhand is very hard and the BJP has been constantly trying to demolish this soil through 'Operation Lotus', ED, Income Tax and CBI," said Sinha.

Counting for Jharkhand and Maharashtra elections

The vote counting process for the 2024 Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly Elections, as well as the bypoll results, began at 8:00 am on Saturday. The results will determine the fate of the 288 seats in Maharashtra and 81 seats in Jharkhand. Early trends are expected to emerge in the first few hours of counting.

In Jharkhand, the key contest is between the JMM-led alliance, which includes Congress, RJD, and CPI(ML), and the BJP-led NDA alliance, consisting of AJSU, JD(U), and LJP. Exit polls predict that the NDA could win 42-47 seats, while the JMM-led alliance is expected to secure 25-30 seats.

Voter turnout shows strong public interest

Voter turnout in Jharkhand was reported at 68.45 percent, surpassing the 65 percent turnout in the 2019 Assembly Elections. In 2019, the JMM won 30 seats, the BJP secured 25, and Congress bagged 16 seats. This higher voter turnout is seen as a positive sign by both major alliances.

In Maharashtra, the election was held on Wednesday with a voter turnout of over 66 percent, a significant increase from the 61 percent recorded in the 2019 elections. The two main alliances in the state—the Mahayuti alliance, including BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, and the MVA alliance, consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP)—are closely watching the results, with both claiming that the turnout favours their campaign.

Along with the assembly elections, bypolls were held in 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states. Notable contests include those in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad, Kerala, where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her electoral debut.

Agency