Jharkhand election results 2019 live updates: JMM+ crosses the majority mark

The JMM-Congress has hit the halfway mark with 41 seats 

Sources say BJP gets in touch with Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) chief Babulal Marandi. 

JMM-Cong is leading with 32 seats, while the BJP sits at 32, JVM at 5 while AJSU at 6 

In a massive fillip for the BJP, the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) is sending feelers to the BJP to form a BJP in case of a hung assembly 

In the first hour of counting, BJP is ahead in 13 seats  

Hemant Soren leading in Dumka, early trends suggest

Counting for 81 seats begings in Jharkhand 

Heavy security deployment at Pandra market yard. It is being used as a strong room for seven constituencies 

In case of a hung assembly, AJSU and JVM-P might emerge the key players. 

PM Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah held 9 rallies while Congress's Rahul Gandhi held 6 rallies 

A voter turnout of 65.17 was registered across the 5 phases in the Jharkhand polls 

JVM-P president Babulal Marandi is fighting from Dhanwar Assembly seat

JMM’s Hemant Soren is contesting from Dumka and Barhet 

CM Raghubar Das is contesting from Jamshedpur East. He hasn't lost there since 1995. 

Incumbent CM Raghubar Das is the first CM to complete a full 5-year term since the state was formed 

The counting for the 5-phase Jharkhand polls to begin at 8 am