Maharashtra Election Results 2024: BJP-Led Mahayuti vs Maha Vikas Aghadi in Crucial Showdown
New Delhi: The counting of votes for the Maharashtra Assembly elections begins at 8 AM on Saturday, with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) vying for control. Exit polls heavily favor the Mahayuti, giving them a significant edge in this high-stakes political battle.
Exit Poll Predictions
Voting for all 288 Assembly seats took place on Wednesday. The majority mark is 145, and exit polls predict the Mahayuti will win around 155 seats. The MVA, comprising the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP group, is expected to secure approximately 120 seats, with smaller parties and independents claiming 13 seats.
However, exit polls have been wrong before. Only one survey predicts an MVA victory, while three remain undecided but lean towards the Mahayuti. Nine polls project a dominant win for the BJP’s coalition, with several forecasting over 150 seats.
MVA leaders, including Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, have dismissed the predictions, citing inaccuracies in previous elections. Raut claims the MVA will win 160-165 seats.
Voter Turnout
This year’s voter turnout was 65.1%, the highest since 2014. Both alliances view this as a positive sign for their chances, though traditionally, high turnout is seen as a challenge for the incumbent.
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis asserted that the increase in voter participation reflects public support for the current government.
Race for Chief Minister
Even before the results, there is intense competition within both alliances over the Chief Minister’s position.
- In the MVA, Congress state chief Nana Patole and Shiv Sena leaders are vying for the role, while decisions will depend on post-victory discussions.
- Within the Mahayuti, Eknath Shinde’s faction supports his continuation, but the BJP appears to favor Fadnavis. Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction may also seek influence, depending on seat outcomes.
Political Context
In 2019, the BJP and the undivided Shiv Sena won a clear majority but split over power-sharing disagreements. Uddhav Thackeray then formed the MVA government, which lasted nearly three years before an internal rebellion led by Shinde realigned the Sena with the BJP.
The NCP later split as well, with Ajit Pawar joining forces with the BJP-Shinde alliance. These shifts have left Maharashtra’s political landscape volatile, with ongoing legal disputes over party identities and MLA disqualifications.
Conclusion
As Maharashtra awaits the final results, the focus remains on whether the Mahayuti can solidify its lead or if the MVA will stage a surprise comeback. The outcome will have far-reaching implications for the political dynamics in one of India’s most significant states.
