Maharashtra Election: Vote-counting begins amid tight security, BJP+ leads in early trends

Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024: The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance was ahead in the 2024 Maharashtra state election, about 30 minutes into the vote-counting process that began at 8 am amid tight security on Saturday, November 23. This week, electors cast their ballots for the 288-seat Legislative Assembly in a single-phase polling process. The ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), is looking to retain power in the state against Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) bloc, which includes the INC, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction), and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction). Follow this space to catch the latest updates on the Maharashtra election results. 

At around 8:30 am, the BJP-led coalition was leading in 53 seats and the Congress-headed alliance in 33, while other candidates were ahead in three seats, early counting trends showed.   

All eyes were on running incoming data as the counting of votes for the high-stakes 2024 Maharashtra Assembly election. 

Maharashtra Election 2024 | What did the Exit Polls predict?

Exit polls predict a close battle between the Mahayuti alliance and the opposition, the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) bloc. 

According to Zee Media's AI-powered exit poll, the BJP-led alliance in Maharashtra is predicted to win 129-159 seats, while the INC-led coalition is estimated to secure 124-154 seats.

The halfway mark in the state is 145.

The ruling Mahayuti alliance--led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde--comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), whereas the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) bloc consists of the INC, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction), and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction).

Counting of votes also underway for Jharkhand and by-polls in 14 other states

Meanwhile, votes will also be counted for the Jharkhand elections as well as by-elections in 14 states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Kerala.