New Delhi:
Jharkhand is headed for a hung Assembly with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) emerging as the kingmaker as Congress alliance made major gained by leading in 23 seats in the 81-member House.
As counting of votes progressed, Shibu Soren-led JMM was leading in 18 seats and the BJP-JD(U) combine was ahead in 20 seats.
Early trends emerging from the counting for Jharkhand Assembly elections on Wednesday indicated an edge for the BJP but now Congress-Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) and BJP alliance are running neck and neck.
(Map: Track seat -by-seat leads and results)UPA's former ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is leading in six seats, while others are ahead in 13 seats.
As per the latest results Congress has won 11 seats, BJP 15 and JMM has claimed victory in 11 seats so far.
Congress and its ally JVM are confident that their alliance will form the next government in the state.
Speaking after his alliance made major gains, former chief minister and JVM chief Babulal Marandi said that his coalition with Congress unexpectedly fell short of majority.
However, he did not rule out seeking support from Shibu Soren. He said: "Shibu Soren is not a foe, I am not averse to seeking support from him."
He also said that the coalition with the maximum number of seats should be asked to form the government first.
On his next move Marandi said: "I will stick to the Congress and there is no question of going to the BJP, even if Shibu Soren comes on board.
He also said: "Our alliance with the Congress should have happened many months before the elections."
Senior Congress leader and Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay indicated that his party could tie up with secular parties to form a government. He said: "I do not see any problem with support from Shibu Soren or Lalu Yadav ; our central leadership will talk to them."
He also said: "I am not in the race for chief ministership.
The BJP's hope of a clear victory has been dashed in Jharkhand since its impressive performance in the last Lok Saba elections a few months back.
Commenting on the poor showing of the party, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Yashwant Sinha said: "We raised many important issues like corruption before the public, but don't seem relevant to the people who vote, what can we do?"
Former chief minister and BJP leader Arjun Munda said: "I accept the fact that the BJP has not done well in these elections."
He denied that not projecting chief ministerial candidate affected BJP. Munda added that there could be many reasons for his party's poor performance.
On being asked about any alliance with Shibu Soren's JMM he said: "Our central leadership has to decide on this."
RJD leader whose party's performance was a mixed bag said: "Something is better than nothing , expected more seats, but I am happy."
On supporting the Congress in Jharkhand he said: "Let them come to me for support, then we will see."
Former chief minister Madhu Koda's wife Gita Koda who contested from Jagannathpur constituency has won her seat. She said that her victory is a vindication of her husband's innocence, and that the people have voted in his support.
After a month long polling process, counting began today for 81 seats in the Jharkhand Assembly elections, and the biggest question is whether Jharkhand can get a stable government, after years of instability, and rule by independents, which has resulted in huge scams to the tune of crores of rupees.
(Read: Key constituencies in Jharkhand elections)Among the candidates trying out their luck, will be those same independents, who, along with ex-Chief Minister Madhu Koda - ruled Jharkhand between 2006 and 2008 - and are now accused in an money laundering scam to the tune of 4000 crore rupees.
(Read: Heavyweights in Jharkhand elections)Despite the Maoist threat, the five phase Jharkhand polls had seen a 58 per cent voter turnout.
(Read: Key issues in Jharkhand elections)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 1489 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.
Also read: 123 women candidates in Jharkhand poll
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Party positions in 2005 elections