Election Results 2024 Live Updates: Soren to take oath on Nov 28, invite top INDIA bloc ministers

For the first time in Maharashtra's history, there is no leader in the Opposition: Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC

Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC on Monday said that it was for the first time in the history of Maharashtra that there was no leader of opposition.
Speaking to ANI, the leader said "For the first time in the history of Maharashtra, we will not have a leader in the opposition. This is the result of the wrong deeds of Congress and opposition but also the false narrative they spread. Look at the adjectives they used...maal, bakri, kutta.. Look at the vision plan which is totally dyfunct."

Further, she said that the situation reflected on how the people of Maharashtra voted for Viksit Bharat and for the development of Bharat Maharashtra.

"The people of Maharashtra have voted for Viksit Bharat and for the development of Bharat and Maharashtra. They have voted for a vision plan that is to take everyone along. When we say 'anekta mein ekta' it means unity in diversity, and the voters for Maharashtra have understood well.. it is well deserved not to have a leader in the opposition rather than have a destructive group of people who only spread false narratives in public service," she added.

Earlier on Sunday, Maharashtra BJP Presidenty Chandrashekhar Bawankule lashed out at Congress and announced that there would be no Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state legislature.

'Mahayuti's victory will continue to inspire inspire our Maharashtra..': Devendra Fadnavis

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has said that Mahayuti's victory will continue to "inspire our Maharashtra" to realize the dream of a developed India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory in the Maharashtra assembly polls by winning 230 (BJP-132, Shiv Sena-57, NCP-41) out of total 288 seats.

"This victory of the Mahayuti has given a new direction only because of your support. This success will continue to inspire our Maharashtra to realize the dream of a developed India with a developed Maharashtra under the leadership of Hon. Modiji with a progressive and inclusive future," Devendra Fadnavis said in an open letter to the people of Maharashtra.

Fadnavis thanked the people for their trust in the alliance.

"The grand victory of the Mahayuti in the Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024 is not only of the BJP-Mahayuti, but of the trust of every citizen of Maharashtra. I bow down to the people of Maharashtra for the trust you have shown and the love you have given," he said.

We've chosen Hemant Soren as alliance leader, extended our support: Jharkhand Congress in-charge

Jharkhand Congress in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir, on Sunday said that a resolution passed in the Congress legislature party meeting to extend support to Hemant Soren.
While speaking to ANI, Jharkhand Congress in-charge further commented that Hemant Soren tendered his resignation at the Raj Bhavan and has staked a claim to form a new government in the state.

"The legislature party meeting of the Congress party was held and a resolution regarding the CLP leader was passed and was sent to the Congress President...We have chosen Hemant Soren as the leader of the alliance and have extended our support. Hemant Soren tendered his resignation at the Raj Bhavan and the Governor accepted the resignation...Hemant Soren staked claim to form the new government...Hemant Soren will take oath as the Jharkhand CM on 28th November," he said.

On Sunday, Hemant Soren told reporters, "On 28 November, the oath ceremony of the new government will take place. Today we have started the procedure to form the (INDIA) alliance government. In this regard, we have staked a claim to form the government in front of the Governor. I also tendered my resignation to him...Congress and the RJD in-charge were also present here... On 28 November the oath ceremony will take place," Hemant Soren said.

Campaign against Bangladeshi infiltration in Jharkhand not political but social: BJP's Champai Soren

Former CM Champai Soren on Sunday said the BJP's movement against the alleged increasing Bangladeshi infiltration in Jharkhand was social in nature and not political or aimed at elections. Soren, who won the Seraikela seat in the assembly polls, claimed that tribals have become a minority in many districts of the state, including Pakur and Sahibganj.

"As we have said earlier, our movement against the ever-increasing Bangladeshi infiltration in Jharkhand is not a political or election issue, but a social campaign. We clearly believe that infiltrators should not get any kind of protection on this land of heroes," he said in a post on X in Hindi.

"Today, the tribal community has become a minority in many districts, including Pakur and Sahibganj. What will happen if we cannot protect the lands of the indigenous people and the dignity of our women?" he added.

Never claimed BJP would win Jharkhand polls: Himanta Biswa Sarma

A day after the BJP bit the dust in Jharkhand, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said he had never claimed that the party would win the assembly polls in the eastern state. Hemant Soren's JMM-led alliance stormed to power in Jharkhand for a second consecutive term, winning 56 seats in the 81-member House, despite an all-out blitz by the BJP-led NDA which managed only 24 seats. Sarma was the BJP's co-in-charge for the Jharkhand polls.
The Assam CM stressed the urgency for the JMM-led alliance to perform its constitutional duty of identifying and deporting infiltrators from the eastern state.

Addressing a press conference here, Sarma said, "Whenever you (media) had asked me here about Jharkhand, I had said that it is a difficult state. I never claimed that we would win. It was a tough job for our party to fight there but we did a good job under the given circumstances."

Sarma, who had practically camped in Jharkhand to campaign for the party ahead of the assembly elections and claimed that infiltrators were posing a threat to the eastern state, reiterated the need for the government to act against them.

"It is the constitutional duty of the government to act against infiltration. How much they will do won't be right for me to prejudge. As chief minister of Assam, I won't comment on the matter any longer. I said whatever I had to when I was there as the party's co in-charge," the BJP leader said.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma felicitates newly elected BJP MLAs

Assam chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday felicitated the three newly elected BJP MLAs in the recently concluded assembly by-polls in Guwahati.

Notably, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by BJP won all five seats where by-elections were held in Assam. BJP's Ghatowal secured the Behali Assembly seat, while the United People's Party Liberal's (UPPL) Nirmal Kumar Brahma, won Sidli. Asom Gana Parishad's Diptimayee Choudhury secured the Bongaigaon Assembly seat for the NDA.

Similarly, BJP's Diplu Ranjan Sarmah and Nihar Ranjan Das emerged victorious from Samaguri and Dholai, respectively.

The by-elections were held in 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states, with notable contests in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad, Kerala, where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her electoral debut.

The ‘Devendra Fadnavis or Eknath Shinde’ conundrum continues for Mahayuti on the question of who should be the new CM even as there are indications that BJP would not want to de lay the return of Devendra Fadnavis to Varsha, the CM’s official residence in Mumbai.
Shinde would have been a shoo-in as CM had the poll results thrown up a modest majority for Mahayuti, but the scale of BJP’s performance has transformed the party’s outlook. It would like to leve rage the numbers it has to anoint Fadnavis as CM as it believes he scripted the big win after playing second fiddle to Shinde for 2.5 years as dy CM.

Hemant Soren to take oath on November 28, invite top INDIA bloc ministers

Hemant Soren accompanied by INDIA bloc members and a few MLAs, submitted his resignation to governor Santosh Gangwar at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi. He submitted a letter of support from 56 MLAs to the governor, JMM said. “The governor accepted his resignation and urged him to continue as caretaker CM until the new govt takes oath,” a Raj Bhavan communique said.

“The new govt will take oath of office on Nov 28. We have begun preparations for the formalities,” Hemant said. Earlier in the day, he met INDIA bloc members at his Kanke Road house in Ranchi.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma sticks to influx theme amid rumblings in BJP after loss

BJP's Jharkhand polls co-incharge and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma kept up Sunday his anti-infiltration pitch, urging the incoming JMM govt to fulfil its "constitutional responsibility" of detecting alleged illegal settlers from Bangladesh and deporting them. His statement came amid rumblings in the saffron camp that the anti-influx plank cost BJP dearly in the polls, report ASRP Mukesh & Kangkan Kalita.

"I would like to appeal to Jharkhand govt to expel or at least detect infiltrators. I hope it will undertake this responsibility. As opposition in the assembly, I request our elected (BJP) MLAs to keep raising this issue," Sarma said in Guwahati. He reiterated that it was a pressing need in Jharkhand to address infiltrators, regardless of who holds office.

While Ajit Pawar was Sunday unanimously elected group leader of the NCP legislature party, sources said on the question of the chief minister’s post, the party has taken the stand that in view of the Maharashtra assembly poll results, it would be appropriate if Devendra Fadnavis is placed at the helm of affairs in the state.

“In June 2022, Eknath Shinde brought 40 MLAs with him (thus getting the CM’s post), but now BJP has 132 seats,” sources in NCP said, indicating the party’s preference.

The NCP legislature party meetpresided over by Pawar was attended by working president Praful Patel, state NCP president Sunil Tatkare and food and civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal.

Maharashtra assembly gets 186 re-elected, 68 freshly minted MLAs

Sixty-eight MLAs will make their debut in the 15th Maharashtra assembly, while 186 sitting legislators will reenter the House. Around 64% sitting MLAs of the 14th assembly have been re-elected in the elections for 288 seats. New entrants will be 23.6% of the total strength of the assembly.

First-time MLAs have been elected from various parts of the state. Vidarbha and Marathwada regions have more than 15 first-time MLAs. Voters in Pune district elected five first timers. Some debutants emerged winners in their maiden election, while many made it to the House this time after a few failed attempts.

Some of the prominent debutants are BJP’s Hemant Rasne from Kasba Peth, NCP (SP)’s Rohit Patil from Tasgaon-Kavathe Mahankal, BJP’s Shankar Jagtap from Chinchwad constituency, and Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Varun Sardesai from Bandra East.

Sardesai and Rasne defeated sitting MLAs Zeeshan Siddique of NCP and Ravindra Dhangekar of Congress, respectively. Rohit is the son of late R R Patil. Jagtap won by a margin of over one lakh votes in his first-ever assembly election.

Former CM Ashok Chavan’s daughter, Sreejaya Chavan, won from Bhokar in her maiden appearance. Mauli Katke defeated sitting Shirur MLA Ashok Chavan to secure his maiden entry to the House.