The high-stakes 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections concluded today (November 20), with polling held across all 288 constituencies. As the state waits for the results on November 23, exit polls have painted a mixed picture, with some agencies predicting a BJP-led alliance victory while others foresee a hung assembly.
Exit poll agencies such as Matrize, Peoples Pulse, Chanakya Strategies, and Times Now-JVC have projected a win for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, suggesting it may retain power. However, Dainik Bhaskar, P-Marq, and Lokshahi Marathi-Rudra forecast a hung house, indicating a razor-thin margin between the Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
Adding intrigue to the contest, the Phalodi Satta Bazar has predicted the Mahayuti alliance will secure 144-152 seats in the state, just above the majority mark of 145, according to several media reports. The alliance, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the Nationalist Congress Party under Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, is counting on flagship programs like Majhi Ladki Bahin to shore up support.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), uniting the Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction), Congress, and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, is optimistic about staging a comeback. The campaign saw high-profile leaders like Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra rallying across Maharashtra, adding to the intensity.
As the vote counting date approaches, all eyes are on Maharashtra to see if the Mahayuti retains its grip on power or if the state witnesses a shift in its political landscape. The suspense is palpable in what could be one of the most closely contested elections in recent years.
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