The Bhartiya Janata party faced another jolt as Jharkhand joined the list of states that slipped away from its hands. As the results of the recently concluded assembly elections were declared today, JMM-Congress alliance won a majority with over 40 seats in the 81-member state assembly.

This indicates a big shift from the 2014 assembly elections, in which the BJP bagged 42 seats in alliance with the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) — reducing the Congress to a meagre six.

After sweeping off the BJP from the state, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the face of the opposition JMM-RJD-Congress alliance in the state, has thanked the people for giving them a “mandate” in the polls.

“We fought in a mahagathbandhan (grand alliance)… I want to thank Lalu-ji, Sonia-ji, Rahul-ji and Priyanka-ji and all those Congress workers who fought with us. I want to thank them all for believing in me,” he added.

Meanwhile, BJP accepted the defeat as Home Minister and BJP chief Amit Shah said the party respects the outcome in Jharkhand assembly elections as the people’s mandate and thanked the state.”We respect the mandate given by the people of Jharkhand. We express our heartfelt gratitude to the people for the opportunity given to BJP to serve the state for 5 years. BJP will remain committed to the development of the state. To all the workers who worked tirelessly, I would like to extend my gratitude,” he said.

Shortly afterwards, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the opposition alliance over its victory in the elections.

Current Chief Minister Raghubar Das of the BJP had earlier said, “The BJP will accept the people’s mandate, whatever it is. If at all BJP loses after the final results, I will consider as my defeat.”

Meanwhile, NCP said people of Jharkhand have demolished the “arrogance” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the saffron party president Amit Shah.

“The people of Jharkhand have demolished the arrogance of Modi ji, Amit Shah and BJP. Democracy has won,” NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik tweeted.

Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut also hit out at the BJP, saying tribals and the poor people of Jharkhand have rejected the Amit Shah-led party.