Maharashtra election result LIVE: NDA makes strong start, leaves MVA far behind

As per the Election Commission of India, following are the leads at around 9 am:

Shiv Sena - SHS: 3

Nationalist Congress Party - NCP: 3

Bharatiya Janata Party - BJP: 1

Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar: 1

The NDA or the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra is currently leading on over 75 seats, while the opposition bloc MVA was at a distant second spot with seven leads. These numbers are as per early trends.

The National Democratic Alliance, also known as the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, is off to a racing start against the Opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and is leading on over 45 seats, according to early trends. Among key NDA candidates, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar are leading from their seats.

The Mahayuti alliance comprises Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Ajit Pawar camp of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The MVA Opposition bloc, comprises the Congress and the breakaway factions of Sena and NCP, led by Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, respectively.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is leading from the Nagpur South West constituency, as per early trends.

According to early trends, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Deputy Chief Minister is leading from the Baramati seat against his nephew Yugendra Pawar.

Here are the current leads, according to very early trends:

Bharatiya Janata Party: 24

Shiv Sena: 6

Nationalist Congress Party: 5

Congress: 2

Prahar Janshakti Party: 2

Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi: 1

Nationalist Congress Party Sharadchandra: 1

The ruling Mahayuti alliance is leading on over 30 seats as per early trends while the opposition bloc - MVA - is moving slowly and is ahead on three seats. The counting of postal ballots is currently underway.

The Mahayuti alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and the NCP is ahead on around 25 seats while the opposition bloc MVA has taken lead on only three seats, according to early trends.

The NDA alliance, also known as the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, is ahead on 17 seats, according to early trends.

As per information from counting centres

-The Bharatiya Janata Party is leading on 15 seats

-Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) on 5 seats

-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-Ajit Pawar)on 3 seats

Bachchu Kadu's Prahar Janshakti Party (PHJSP) has opened its account and is ahead on two seats, as per very early trends.

The ruling Mahayuti alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde camp) and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) has taken lead on seven seats, according to very early trends, while the opposition MVA bloc is leading on one seat.

The counting of postal ballots is underway.

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is ahead in two seats, according to very early leads. The counting of postal ballots is currently underway.

The counting of votes has begun for all 288 seats of the Maharashtra Assembly and early trends are expected to come in shortly. The counting of votes commences with ballots first, followed by EVM votes.

Counting of votes for all 288 seats has begun. Ballots to be counted first.

Jalebis being prepared at BJP headquarters in New Delhi, ahead of the counting of votes in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

In the ruling alliance, Mahayuti, the BJP fielded candidates for 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena for 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP for 59 constituencies.

In the opposition's MVA combine, the Congress fielded candidates for 101 seats, the Shiv Sena (UBT) for 95, and NCP (SP) for 86 candidates.

Among other parties, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), also contested, with BSP fielding 237 candidates and AIMIM putting up 17 candidates.

Most exit poll surveyors have given an edge or projected a comfortable win for the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which is made of the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Ajit Pawar camp of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The MVA - comprising breakaway factions of Sena and NCP and the Congress - is projected to give a tough fight but not hit the majority mark of 145.

Only one pollster, Electoral Edge, has projected an MVA sweep.

Exit poll projection

1. People's Pulse:

Mahayuti (BJP+): 182

Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress+): 97

Others: 9

2. Matrize:

Mahayuti (BJP+): 150-170

Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress+): 110-130

Others: 8-10

3. P-Marq:

Mahayuti (BJP+): 137-157

Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress+): 126-146

Others: 2-8

4. News 24- Chanakya:

Mahayuti (BJP+): 152-160

Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress+): 130-138

Others: 6-8

5. Lokshahi Marathi-Rudra:

Mahayuti (BJP+): 128-142

Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress+): 125-140

Others: 18-23

6. Times Now-JVC:

Mahayuti (BJP+): 150-167

Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress+): 107-125

Others: 13-14

7. Poll Diary

Mahayuti (BJP+): 122-186

Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress+): 69-121

Others: 12-29

8. Electoral Edge

Mahayuti (BJP+): 119

Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress+): 155

Others: 14

9. Axis My India:

Mahayuti (BJP+): 178-200

Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress+): 82-102

Others: 6-12

Security has been beefed up outside counting centres in Maharashtra as the vote-count takes place from 8 am today. Visuals from 171 Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar counting centre in Mumbai.

While the counting of votes for the Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024 will begin at 8 am, the final official results is expected to be declared by the Election Commission of India (ECI) only by evening, when all rounds of voting for all the 288 seats would have had taken place. However, early trends will start coming in shortly after counting of votes begins.

NCP leader Suraj Chavan said the mood of Maharashtra has been with the Mahayuti for the past two and a half years, adding that by this afternoon, Maharashtra's mood will be clear, and the alliance will establish its government.

The counting of votes for Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024 is also taking place today, along with the same for Maharashtra polls. In Jharkhand, voting took place in two phases - November 13 and November 20.

Among the constituents of the INDIA bloc, JMM is contesting 43 seats, Congress 30, RJD six, and CPI(ML) four. The BJP is fighting on 68 seats, AJSU 10, JD(U) two, and LJP one seat.

In the previous assembly election, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha won 30 seats, the BJP 25, and Congress 16 seats. Track Jharkhand Assembly elections result LIVE updates

In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the undivided Shiv Sena 56, the undivided NCP 54, Congress 44, independents 13, and others 16 seats.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is contesting from the Nagpur South-West constituency, where Congress candidate Gudadhe-Patil is challenging him. Fadnavis has represented Nagpur South West since 2009, steadily building a stronghold in the constituency.

In the 2019 assembly poll, he secured a decisive victory with a margin of over 49,000 votes, reaffirming his dominance. Over the years, his focus on infrastructure development and urban welfare projects has been central to his governance narrative.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is seeking a fourth term as an MLA from Thane's Kopri-Pachpakhadi seat. He is expected to face stiff competition from Kedar Dighe of the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction.

Kedar Dighe is the nephew of the late Anand Dighe, a highly influential Shiv Sena leader and a political mentor to Eknath Shinde. He currently leads the party's Thane district unit.

Kopri-Pachpakhadi has been Shinde's stronghold since 2009. The election assumes significance as it marks the first electoral battle between Shiv Sena factions after the party's split.

Maharashtra Election Results 2024 LIVE: NCP-SP spokesperson Anish Gawande told news agency PTI, “I think it has been a very closely contested election, and we have put in our best. We have seen an unprecedented number of sabhas being conducted by (Sharad) Pawar saheb.”

He also stated, " We are confident that the people of Maharashtra have voted for more progressive and a more inclusive future."