Election results LIVE | NDA set for massive win in Maharashtra; INDIA Bloc stunner in Jharkhand
Mandate crucial for regional satraps like Shinde, Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad and Ajit Pawar in Maharashtra, and Hemant Soren in Jharkhand
It's way early, but it increasingly looks like the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is set for a landslide win in Maharashtra, while in Jharkhand, the INDIA Bloc is set for a stunning comeback. As per the latest updates, the BJP-led alliance is winning over 200 seats, with the Maha Vikas Aghadi tottering at 71. In Jharkhand, INDIA Bloc is ahead in 50 seats, with NDA in 29.
Here are the bypoll updates from across states
Kerala: Congress leads in Palakkad and Wayanad; Left in Chelakkara
Karnataka: Cong in Sandur, BJP in Shiggaon and JDS in Channapatna
UP: BJP leads in 6 states, as per an ANI report.
West Bengal: TMC leads in 4 seats
Bihar: RJD leads in 1 seat
Punjab: AAP leads in 3 seats
Rajasthan: BJP leads in 1 seats
With a dramatic change in its political dynamics over the last two and a half years following a split in the regional forces like Shiv Sena and NCP, Maharashtra witnessed an intense battle between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) grouping. The Mahayuti comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, while the MVA has Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP) as its constituents.
Also read: Graphic Explainer | Maharashtra polls: Six regions, and their electoral dynamics
We are also running exciting live discussions on our YouTube channel. Watch them here.
Will BJP wrest power in Jharkhand?
Jharkhand witnessed a fierce electoral battle between the ruling JMM-led INDIA bloc and the BJP-led NDA, with the former seeking to retain power and the latter attempting to wrest it from the ruling dispensation.
The NDA attacked the JMM-led coalition over corruption and infiltration, criticising ruling party leaders, including the chief minister, who is out on bail. Hemant Soren hit out at the saffron camp, alleging that the Opposition party spent over Rs 500 crore on "malicious campaigns" against him.
Also read: BJP’s aggression over ‘infiltrators’ undercuts JMM in key tribal hubs
Bypoll counting
Bypoll counting across 14 states will also happen today. In Kerala's Wayanad, where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is making her LS electoral debut.
Read the live updates here.
#WATCH | Delhi: On Mahayuti's lead in #MaharashtraAssemblyElections2024, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia says, "BJP-NDA-Mahayuti is going to make a hat-trick. We are winning Maharashtra as well as Jharkhand. We are winning in Uttar Pradesh too (Assembly by-elections).… pic.twitter.com/qop0E4cMei
— ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024
#WATCH | Ranchi: On counting for #JharkhandElection2024, BJP leader Pradip Kumar Varma says "EVM rounds have started coming and NDA seems to be moving forward continuously. People in the state voted in favour of change. People have supported us in the elections and that is very… pic.twitter.com/4oTwfahHFs
— ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar are leading in their respective assembly constituencies in the first round of the counting of votes for the November 20 state elections.
As per the figures provided by the Election Commission officials, Shinde was leading by 4,053 votes over his nearest rival from Kopri-Pachpakhadi assembly seat at the end of first round of counting, while Fadnavis was leading by 2,246 votes from Nagpur South-West and Pawar by 3,759 votes in Baramati seat, where he is locked in a tussle with his nephew Yugendra Pawar.
Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole was leading by 344 votes from Sakoli constituency at the end of first round.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and sitting MLA Aaditya Thackeray was leading in Worli assembly seat in Mumbai by 495 votes, the poll officials said.
Congress Legislature Party leader and former minister Balasaheb Thorat was trailing in Sangamner assembly seat by 1,831 votes.
Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan was also trailing by 1,590 votes in Karad South assembly seat at the end of the first round of counting, the officials added.
The counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections began at 8 am Saturday, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.