Live | Exit polls predict tight contest in Maharashtra, Jharkhand; give edge to NDA

The ruling Mahayuti will return to power in Maharashtra, say five of nine exit polls on Wednesday (November 20). While three others predict a hung result, almost all of them predict a tight contest. One has given the edge to INDIA bloc.

The predictions are similar for Jharkhand, with four pollsters predicting an NDA win, and one going with the INDIA bloc. Two predict a hung verdict and, similar to Maharashtra, almost all of them predict a close contest. Catch all the latest updates in our Live below.

Voting concluded for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections on Wednesday evening (November 20). The votes for both state Assemblies will be counted on Saturday (November 23).

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The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is vying to retain power and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) combine is hoping for a strong comeback.

In the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 seats, and the Shiv Sena was in the fray in 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.

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In the Opposition’s MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) has put up 86 candidates.

For the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, voting was held in two phases – on November 13 (43 seats) and on Wednesday (38 seats).

The ruling JMM-led INDIA bloc is seeking to retain power riding on its welfare schemes, while the BJP-headed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is trying to wrest it.

Follow all the live updates from the Maharashtra, Jharkhand exit polls here