As the wait ends for the "battle of ballots" in Jharkhand, political parties are preparing for the much-anticipated election results set to determine whether the BJP-led NDA or the JMM-led alliance will take charge. Vote counting will begin with postal ballots at 8 am, with initial trends expected around 9 am.

This year saw a historic voter turnout, reaching 67.74%—the highest since Jharkhand became a state on November 15, 2000.

An Election Commission official confirmed, "Preparations are on for counting day on November 23. All counting centers are ready with elaborate arrangements, and each Assembly constituency will have a designated observer. Every counting table will be led by an ARO to ensure fair handling of postal ballots."

The official emphasized that the entire process will be transparent, monitored closely by media, candidates, and their agents. Security has been tightened, and strong rooms are under constant video surveillance to guarantee the integrity of the count.

"Counting of postal ballots will start at 8 am, and trends will start coming from 9 to 9:15 am," the official said.

Fierce Contest Between JMM and BJP
Jharkhand's elections occurred in two stages—November 13 and 20. The first phase covered 43 out of 81 seats, with the second phase tackling the remaining 38. A significant face-off took place between the ruling JMM-led INDIA bloc and the BJP-led NDA. While the JMM coalition aims to maintain its hold, the NDA is determined to reclaim power.

Exit polls are divided: some suggest the BJP-led NDA may unseat the ruling JMM alliance, while others predict a return for the INDIA coalition. Crucial seats are expected to determine the political futures of leading figures.

Key Candidates in the Fray
Notable candidates include Chief Minister Hemant Soren, contesting from Barhait, and his wife Kalpana Soren from Gandey. BJP's Amar Kumar Bauri ran from Chandankiyari. Among the 1,211 candidates in the race are BJP's Babulal Marandi in Dhanwar and JMM's Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato in Nala.

Other significant names include Congress's Deepika Pandey Singh in Mahagama, Sita Soren from Jamtara (CM Hemant Soren's sister-in-law), AJSU Party's Sudesh Mahto from Silli, and former Chief Minister Champai Soren from Seraikela.

Campaign Highlights and Allegations
The NDA focused its campaign on allegations of corruption and infiltration against the JMM-led coalition, with sharp criticisms directed at Hemant Soren, who is out on bail. In response, the JMM coalition countered with promises of welfare initiatives and accusations against the BJP-led Centre for misusing central agencies like the ED and CBI to target opposition.

Hemant Soren accused the BJP of spending over ₹500 crore on "malicious campaigns" against him. The BJP, including high-profile figures like the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, and other top leaders, held rallies attacking the ruling coalition over corruption.

The removal of Champai Soren as Chief Minister became a campaign focus, with the BJP portraying it as an insult to tribal leadership under the JMM. Hemant Soren, who was released on bail in June, returned as Chief Minister for a third term after Champai Soren's resignation.

Battle Lines Drawn
Campaign rhetoric saw slogans like "ek rahenge toh safe range" (if we remain united, we will be safe) from the BJP. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi humorously interpreted this as unity among top BJP leaders and industrial tycoons.

The INDIA bloc, featuring leaders from Congress and JMM, focused on promises of welfare schemes while accusing the BJP-led Centre of targeting opponents. In this election, 28 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates, and 9 for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates.

In the 2019 elections, JMM dominated ST seats, securing 19 out of 28, while Congress got 6 and BJP only 2. Among SC seats, JMM won 2, and BJP secured 6.

Seat Distribution for the 2024 Elections
For this election, the NDA has candidates in 68 seats, with allies AJSU Party, JD(U), and Lok Janshakti (Ram Vilas) covering 10, 2, and 1 seats, respectively. The INDIA bloc’s division includes JMM in 43 seats, Congress in 30, RJD in 6, and CPI(ML) in 4. Friendly contests are expected in select constituencies.

In 2019, the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance formed a comfortable majority, securing 47 seats, while the BJP's tally was reduced to 25 from 37 in 2014. The outcome of this year's election is set to be a pivotal moment for Jharkhand's political landscape.