The counting of votes for the Maharashtra Assembly elections began at 8 am on Saturday, November 23. The election is a crucial face-off between the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, marking the first major election after the splits in both the Shiv Sena and the NCP.

With a majority mark of 145 required in the 288-seat assembly, the stakes are high. Exit polls largely predict a victory for the Mahayuti alliance, though some suggest the possibility of a hung assembly if no coalition achieves a clear majority.

This election witnessed an increased voter turnout of 66.05%, up from 61.1% in 2019. Kolhapur led with the highest turnout at 76.63%, followed by Gadchiroli at 75.26%. Mumbai island city recorded the lowest turnout at 52.07%, while Mumbai suburban saw 55.95%.

Key Alliances and Contestants:

• Mahayuti Alliance: Includes BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction). The BJP contested 149 seats, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) 81, and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) 59.
• MVA Alliance: Features Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction). Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) 86.
• Other Contestants: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) contested 237 seats, and the AIMIM fielded 17 candidates.

As results unfold, the political dynamics of Maharashtra could witness significant changes, with both alliances vying for power in this highly contested election.