Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Pravin Darekar on Saturday demanded that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis be appointed as the next chief minister of the state with early trends in the counting of votes for the Maharashtra elections 2024 suggesting a win for the Mahayuti combine, reported news agency PTI. In the alliance, the party that secures the highest number of seats will be entitled to get the chief minister's post, he asserted. The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance appeared set to retain power in the state, and was leading in 218 of the 288 assembly seats, as per the latest figures in the counting of votes by the Election Commission. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was stumbling, with its candidates leading in just 50 seats. As per ECI figures, in the Mahayuti, BJP candidates were leading in 128 seats, Shiv Sena in 55 and NCP in 35 seats. Talking to reporters, BJP MLC Darekar said, "Based on the current trends, I believe that the BJP will be the single largest party and Devendra Fadnavis should become the chief minister. The election was contested under his leadership, and he called for a 'dharma yuddha' in these assembly polls," reported PTI. "I cannot express my gratitude to people," he said, reported PTI. When asked about the current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, whose party Shiv Sena is an ally of the BJP, Darekar said, "As part of the alliance, the party that secures the most seats will be entitled to the post of Chief Minister." Something is fishy, there's a big conspiracy: Sanjay Raut on poll trends suggesting Mahayuti's win Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday alleged that there was a "big conspiracy" and something was "fishy" in the Maharashtra assembly poll results with trends suggesting a landslide victory for the Mahayuti combine. Talking to reporters, he said the poll results do not reflect people's mandate as the situation was very different on the ground and there was palpable anger against the government. "I see a big conspiracy in this...This is not a mandate of Marathi 'manoos' and farmers," he said. "We do not accept this as people's mandate. Something is fishy in the election results," Raut added. There was no doubt that money was used in the polls, he alleged. "How can all MLAs of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde win? How can Ajit Pawar, whose betrayal angered Maharashtra, win?" the Rajya Sabha MP asked. (With inputs from PTI)
23 November,2024 12:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra Assembly elections have delivered a resounding victory for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde emerging as a dominant force in the state’s political landscape. Leading in over 204 of the 288 constituencies, the alliance appears set to retain power, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) struggles to stay afloat with leads in just 47 seats, according to the Election Commission’s latest updates. Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction has significantly outpaced Uddhav Thackeray’s camp, with trends showing his party leading in 55 constituencies compared to Uddhav’s 20. Despite being early results, the numbers suggest that Shinde has solidified his claim as the leader of the “real Shiv Sena,” further bolstering his position as a political heavyweight. Decisive blow to Uddhav For Uddhav Thackeray, this election was more than just a political contest — it was a battle to secure his faction’s claim to the Shiv Sena’s legacy. However, Shinde’s faction has outperformed Uddhav’s Shiv Sena (UBT) with an impressive strike rate, contesting only 80 seats and gaining a substantial lead. In contrast, Uddhav’s group fielded candidates in 92 constituencies but has failed to match Shinde’s dominance. This assembly election outcome follows a similar pattern seen in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year, where Shinde’s Sena won 7 out of 15 contested seats, outperforming Uddhav’s 9 wins from 21 constituencies. The latest trends reinforce Shinde’s position as the custodian of the Shiv Sena’s ideological core, while Uddhav’s dependence on MVA allies appears to have alienated the party’s traditional voter base. Winning the grassroots battle Throughout the campaign, Shinde cast himself as the leader supported by the “true Shiv Sainiks.” His rallies frequently underscored his faction’s connection to the Sena’s grassroots ideology, which he claimed had been diluted under Uddhav’s leadership. In a notable rally at Vaijapur, Shinde derided Uddhav’s “flaming torch” election symbol, calling it a force of division. “They call it revolutionary, but it only sets homes ablaze,” Shinde said, painting his rival as out of touch with the party’s foundational principles. Shinde’s commitment to protecting the Sena’s Hindutva roots and appealing to its traditional voter base resonated strongly with the electorate, cementing his dominance. Mahayuti’s historic performance The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction, is poised for a historic victory. The BJP has led the charge, dominating in over 120 constituencies — a significant improvement from its 2019 tally of 105 seats. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar’s faction has shown marked progress, leading in 35 seats and outperforming its dismal Lok Sabha performance earlier this year, when it secured just one seat. This formidable alliance has left the opposition MVA, a coalition of Uddhav’s Shiv Sena, Congress, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP, trailing far behind. With leads in only about 70 constituencies, the MVA has struggled to mount a credible challenge. Eknath Shinde’s triumph in this election is not just a personal victory but a turning point in Maharashtra’s political narrative. By outperforming his rivals and consolidating his party’s grassroots base, Shinde has claimed the mantle of the Shiv Sena’s true heir, leaving Uddhav’s faction to confront its existential crisis. As the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secures a historic win, Maharashtra’s political landscape has undergone a seismic shift, with Shinde firmly entrenched as a leader of both conviction and consequence.
23 November,2024 12:32 PM IST | MumbaiBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Pravin Darekar on Saturday demanded that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis be appointed as the next chief minister of the state with early trends in the counting of votes for the Maharashtra elections 2024 suggesting a win for the Mahayuti combine, reported news agency PTI. In the alliance, the party that secures the highest number of seats will be entitled to get the chief minister's post, he asserted. The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance appeared set to retain power in the state, and was leading in 218 of the 288 assembly seats, as per the latest figures in the counting of votes by the Election Commission. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was stumbling, with its candidates leading in just 50 seats. As per ECI figures, in the Mahayuti, BJP candidates were leading in 128 seats, Shiv Sena in 55 and NCP in 35 seats. Talking to reporters, BJP MLC Darekar said, "Based on the current trends, I believe that the BJP will be the single largest party and Devendra Fadnavis should become the chief minister. The election was contested under his leadership, and he called for a 'dharma yuddha' in these assembly polls," reported PTI. "I cannot express my gratitude to people," he said, reported PTI. When asked about the current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, whose party Shiv Sena is an ally of the BJP, Darekar said, "As part of the alliance, the party that secures the most seats will be entitled to the post of Chief Minister." Something is fishy, there's a big conspiracy: Sanjay Raut on poll trends suggesting Mahayuti's win Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday alleged that there was a "big conspiracy" and something was "fishy" in the Maharashtra assembly poll results with trends suggesting a landslide victory for the Mahayuti combine. Talking to reporters, he said the poll results do not reflect people's mandate as the situation was very different on the ground and there was palpable anger against the government. "I see a big conspiracy in this...This is not a mandate of Marathi 'manoos' and farmers," he said. "We do not accept this as people's mandate. Something is fishy in the election results," Raut added. There was no doubt that money was used in the polls, he alleged. "How can all MLAs of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde win? How can Ajit Pawar, whose betrayal angered Maharashtra, win?" the Rajya Sabha MP asked. (With inputs from PTI)
23 November,2024 12:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra witnessed an extraordinary voter turnout in the recently concluded assembly elections, marking the highest participation in three decades. As results begin to trickle in, early trends indicate a strong lead for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance (BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP), which has surged past the halfway mark. Of the nine exit polls conducted, five predicted a comfortable victory for the Mahayuti bloc. Meanwhile, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (NCP(SP)-Shiv Sena (UBT)-Congress) is trailing, though still hopeful for a turnaround as counting continues. The elections are widely seen as a litmus test for the fractured political landscape of Maharashtra, particularly the split within the Shiv Sena and the NCP. If the Maha Vikas Aghadi manages a win, it will face the uphill task of navigating internal differences over the chief ministerial candidate. Leading and trailing candidates Candidate Name Party Name Constituency Leading/Trailing Eknath Shinde Shiv Sena (Shinde) Kopri-Pachpakhadi Leading Nana Patole Congress Sakoli Leading Devendra Fadnavis BJP Nagpur South West Leading Aaditya Thackeray Shiv Sena (UBT) Worli Leading Milind Deora Shiv Sena (Shinde) Worli Trailing Zeeshan Siddique NCP (Ajit Pawar) Bandra East Trailing Nawab Malik NCP (Ajit Pawar) Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Trailing Ajit Pawar NCP (Ajit Pawar) Baramati Leading Yugendra Pawar NCP (SP) Baramati Trailing Amit Thackeray MNS Mahim Trailing Sada Sarvankar Shiv Sena (Shinde) Mahim Trailing Jitendra Awhad NCP (SP) Mumbra-Kalwa Leading Abu Azmi Samajwadi Party Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Leading Prithviraj Chavan Congress Karad South Trailing Sanjay Nirupam Shiv Sena (Shinde) Dindoshi Leading Rohit Pawar NCP (SP) Karjat Jamkhed Leading Shameebha Patil VBA Raver Trailing C Bawankule BJP Kamthi Leading Sreejaya Chavan BJP Bhokar Leading Sunil Raut Shiv Sena (UBT) Vikhroli Leading With counting underway, the focus now shifts to whether the Maha Vikas Aghadi can narrow the gap or if the Mahayuti will sail to a decisive victory. The final results will not only determine Maharashtra's next government but will also serve as a barometer for the fractured alliances and their political future.
23 November,2024 12:25 PM IST | Mumbai | Anisha ShrivastavaShiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday alleged that there was a "big conspiracy" and something was "fishy" in the Maharashtra elections 2024 results with trends suggesting a landslide victory for the Mahayuti combine, reported PTI. Talking to reporters, he said the poll results do not reflect people's mandate as the situation was very different on the ground and there was palpable anger against the government. "I see a big conspiracy in this...This is not a mandate of Marathi 'manoos' and farmers," he said, reported PTI. "We do not accept this as people's mandate. Something is fishy in the election results," Raut added, reported PTI. There was no doubt that money was used in the polls, he alleged. "How can all MLAs of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde win? How can Ajit Pawar, whose betrayal angered Maharashtra, win?" the Rajya Sabha MP asked, reported PTI. The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance appeared set to retain power in the state, and was leading in 218 of the 288 assembly seats, as per the latest figures by the Election Commission on the Maharashtra elections 2024. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was stumbling, with its candidates leading in just 50 seats, as per the early trends. In the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies. In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates. Counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections began Saturday morning, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which is seeking to make a comeback. The counting of votes commenced at 8 am in all the counting centres in the state, an election official said. At the counting centres, officials first began verifying and counting the postal ballots, with the counting of EVM votes scheduled to start at 8.30 am. There will be a minimum of 20 rounds of counting in each assembly segment, an official said. The final turnout in the polls, held on November 20, was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019. (With inputs from PTI)
23 November,2024 12:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday alleged that there was a "big conspiracy" and something was "fishy" in the Maharashtra elections 2024 results with trends suggesting a landslide victory for the Mahayuti combine, reported PTI. Talking to reporters, he said the poll results do not reflect people's mandate as the situation was very different on the ground and there was palpable anger against the government. "I see a big conspiracy in this...This is not a mandate of Marathi 'manoos' and farmers," he said, reported PTI. "We do not accept this as people's mandate. Something is fishy in the election results," Raut added, reported PTI. There was no doubt that money was used in the polls, he alleged. "How can all MLAs of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde win? How can Ajit Pawar, whose betrayal angered Maharashtra, win?" the Rajya Sabha MP asked, reported PTI. The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance appeared set to retain power in the state, and was leading in 218 of the 288 assembly seats, as per the latest figures by the Election Commission on the Maharashtra elections 2024. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was stumbling, with its candidates leading in just 50 seats, as per the early trends. In the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies. In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates. Counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections began Saturday morning, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which is seeking to make a comeback. The counting of votes commenced at 8 am in all the counting centres in the state, an election official said. At the counting centres, officials first began verifying and counting the postal ballots, with the counting of EVM votes scheduled to start at 8.30 am. There will be a minimum of 20 rounds of counting in each assembly segment, an official said. The final turnout in the polls, held on November 20, was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019. (With inputs from PTI)
23 November,2024 11:55 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCommuters on Central Railway on Saturday complained that they were trapped inside the CSMT-bound AC slow local train. The train halted at Dadar, but its doors did not open, and the train proceeded on its onward journey during the morning rush hours. They were forced to alight at Parel. "Today 8:33am #Titwala to CSMT AC local slow halted at #Dadar station. However, door were not opened... horrible experience, all Dadar passengers forced to be travel till Parel without any announcement inside the train," says commuter Mukesh Makhija, who was onboard the train. CR officials confirmed the development and said the doors did not open during the Dadar halt due to a technical issue. We are taking all necessary steps to prevent such issues in the future.
23 November,2024 11:43 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is poised to secure a dominant victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, leading in 218 of the 288 seats as per the latest trends shared by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Meanwhile, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is trailing far behind, with leads in only 50 constituencies. TV channels projected a landslide win for the ruling alliance, with Mahayuti ahead in 222 constituencies and the MVA leading in 56. The counting of votes began at 8 am on Saturday, following polling on November 20, which witnessed a voter turnout of 66.05%, significantly higher than the 61.1% recorded in 2019. Mahayuti secures lead across parties As per PTI reports, the Mahayuti alliance comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The BJP is spearheading the coalition’s performance, leading in 128 constituencies. Shiv Sena has secured leads in 55 seats, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP is ahead in 35 constituencies. On the other hand, the MVA alliance, consisting of the Congress, Sharad Pawar’s NCP (Sharad faction), and the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), is struggling to keep pace. Congress is leading in 20 seats, the UBT faction in 17, and the NCP (SP) in 13 constituencies. Key contenders show strong performances Prominent leaders of the Mahayuti alliance, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, are leading in their respective constituencies. In Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray is leading in the Worli assembly seat by 495 votes, while Congress Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat is trailing in Sangamner by 1,831 votes. Composition of the outgoing assembly In the outgoing assembly, the BJP held 105 seats, while the Shiv Sena had 41. The NCP had 40, and the Congress secured 45. The remaining seats were divided among smaller parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT) with 15, NCP (SP) with 12, and independents holding 13 seats. High stakes for both alliances The election is a critical contest between the ruling Mahayuti coalition and the opposition MVA, with both alliances hoping to capitalise on the increased voter turnout as a mandate for their governance. The Mahayuti alliance fielded candidates across 288 seats, with the BJP contesting 149, Shiv Sena 81, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP 59. The MVA alliance distributed its candidature with Congress contesting 101 seats, UBT Shiv Sena in 95, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP in 86. As counting progresses, the Mahayuti alliance’s performance signals a decisive mandate, while the MVA faces challenges in reclaiming its foothold. With the BJP and its allies pulling ahead in most constituencies, Maharashtra appears set to witness another term of Mahayuti governance.
23 November,2024 11:40 AM IST | MumbaiAmid counting of votes for Maharashtra elections 2024, Shiv Sena candidate from Andheri East Murji Patel on Saturday expressed confidence that he would win Andheri East with a margin of more than 20,000 votes, reported ANI. Patel said, "I had the darshan of Ganpati bappa just now. I prayed to Him for Mahayuti Government in Maharashtra once again. I prayed to him for his blessings...I will win Andheri East with a margin of more than 20,000 votes. In last 10 years, the people of Andheri have been hassled. No work was done," reported ANI. The Andheri East Assembly constituency went to polls on November 20. He faces tough contest from Rutuja Ramesh Latke from Shiv Sena (UBT). In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Ramesh Latke won in this seat, reported ANI. Counting began at 8 am on Saturday for the 2024 Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly Elections, along with bypoll results from 15 states. The counting, which will decide the fate of the 288 seats in Maharashtra and 81 in Jharkhand, is expected to reveal trends in the first few hours. In Maharashtra, the polling for the Legislative Assembly was held on Wednesday, with a turnout of over 66 percent, surpassing the 61 percent recorded in the 2019 elections. The Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, is in a tough contest with the MVA alliance consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP). Both alliances view the increased voter turnout as a sign of support for their respective campaigns. State Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam praised efforts to increase voter participation, especially in Mumbai. "The Election Commission of India gave significant focus, attention, and time to Maharashtra this time. Each strategy was conceptualised and implemented with high precision. This resulted in a significant addition to the voter list between the Parliament election and the current election. Efforts were made to ease voting, especially in places like Mumbai, where there were challenges during the Parliament elections. This time, everyone appreciated the arrangements," he said. He also thanked nearly 6 lakh officials who ensured smooth voting, reported ANI. The bypolls were held in 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states, with notable contests in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad, Kerala, where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her electoral debut. (With inputs from ANI)
23 November,2024 11:28 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena candidate from the Dindoshi Assembly constituency, Sanjay Nirupam on Saturday exuded confidence in his victory, saying "I am confident that I will emerge victorious." He visited the famous Shree Siddhivinayak Temple and offered prayers at the temple. Speaking to reporters here, Nirupam affirmed that Mahayuti will form the government in the state. "I have come here to seek blessings of Shree Siddhivinayak. I am confident that I will emerge victorious with his blessings. Just like me, candidates of Shiv Sena, BJP and Ajit Pawar's party will also win and Mahayuti will form govt in Maharashtra again," Nirupam said. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and candidate from Mahim Assembly constituency, Mahesh Sawant also visited the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati temple in Mumbai and said, "...I have come here to take blessings." The counting of the votes began at 8 am on Saturday for Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly Elections, along with bypoll results from 15 states. The counting, which will decide the fate of the 288 seats in Maharashtra and 81 in Jharkhand, is expected to reveal trends in the first few hours. Earlier today, moments before the commencement of counting for the assembly polls, Shiv Sena candidate from Mumba Devi assembly constituency, Shaina NC also visited the Shree Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai and offered prayers. Expressing confidence, Shaina NC said that she believes she will be victorious because of the love she received from the people of Mumba Devi. Speaking to ANI, she said, "The way Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar have worked in these two and half years, one thing is clear that people have voted based on their work. It will be history as it will be a hat trick today.... There are a lot of people who work with negative politics and does appeasement politics but we are working with positivity. We have blessings of Maa Mumba Devi and I can say that history is going to be created... from last 15 years there is no development in the constituency... we have came to work and develop... the Chief Minister's Ladki Behen Yojana has definitely benefitted... a lot of things have to be done... I believe I will be victorious because of the love I have received from the public of Mumba Devi." In Maharashtra, the polling for the Legislative Assembly was held on Wednesday, with a turnout of over 66 per cent, surpassing the 61 per cent recorded in the 2019 elections. The Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, is in a tough contest with the MVA alliance consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP). Both alliances view the increased voter turnout as a sign of support for their respective campaigns. In Maharashtra, the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, is engaged in a fierce contest with the MVA, which includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP). Polling for the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly took place on Wednesday, recording a turnout of 66.05%, compared to nearly 61% in the 2019 assembly elections. Both Mahayuti and MVA leaders view the increased voter turnout as a positive sign for their respective alliances. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 November,2024 11:24 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIAs the counting of votes for Maharashtra elections 2024 begins, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi exuded confidence in the Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) victory and remarked that the people of state will ensure the MVA's win, giving the alliance a simple majority and the chance to form the government. Priyanka Chaturvedi also criticized the ruling Mahayuti's governance over the past 2.5 years, citing corruption, crimes against women, and farmer-related issues. "Our victory is certain, and we will celebrate as the results unfold," said Chaturvedi. Speaking to ANI, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said, "Initial trends will start coming in now, postal ballots will be counted. I think picture will be clear around 11 am-12 noon. But it is very clear that the people of Maharashtra will make Maha Vikas Aghadi victorious and we will get the opportunity to form government once again with a simple majority." "The manner in which Maharashtra saw corruption, loot and crimes against women, farmers issues in 2.5 years and the manner in which Delhi was trying to run the government in Delhi, Maharashtra saw that too. Our victory is certain and I believe that as the results come out, we will all celebrate," she added. Visuals from various counting centres in Maharashtra on Saturday morning showed teams of election officials gearing up for the counting of the votes for the 288 assembly seats that went to the polls on November 20. The counting began at 8 am today. Arrangements are also in place for counting votes for the Jharkhand assembly polls and bypolls on 48 assembly and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states. Counting began at 8 am, with trends expected to emerge in Maharashtra and Jharkhand within the next two hours. In Maharashtra, the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, is engaged in a fierce contest with the MVA, which includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP). The Maharashtra elections 2024 for the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly took place on Wednesday, recording a turnout of 66.05 per cent, compared to nearly 61 per cent in the 2019 assembly elections. Both Mahayuti and MVA leaders view the increased voter turnout as a positive sign for their respective alliances. In the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP is contesting 148 seats, Shiv Sena (led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde) 80, and NCP (led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar) 52. Six additional seats have Mahayuti candidates in the fray. In the MVA alliance, Congress is contesting 102 seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) 96, and NCP (SP) 86. The Samajwadi Party and smaller MVA allies are contesting two seats each. In the 2019 elections, BJP won 105 seats, the undivided Shiv Sena 56, the undivided NCP 54, Congress 44, independents 13, and others 16 seats.In Jharkhand, the first phase of polling was conducted in 43 of the 81 assembly seats on November 13. Among the constituents of the INDIA bloc, JMM is contesting 43 seats, Congress 30, RJD six, and CPI(ML) four. The BJP is contesting 68 seats, AJSU 10, JD(U) two, and LJP one seat. In the previous assembly election, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha won 30 seats, the BJP 25, and Congress 16 seats. The bypolls were also fiercely contested across various states, including Uttar Pradesh, where nine assembly seats saw polling on Wednesday. Bypolls were held in 48 assembly and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states. In Wayanad, Kerala, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her electoral debut. The bypolls were conducted in two phases.
23 November,2024 11:21 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
