Maharashtra Assembly Election Results 2024: Mahayuti Leads as Counting Continues

The counting of votes for the Maharashtra Assembly election began on Saturday, November 23, 2024, with the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance vying for power in the state. The election, which saw a single-phase voting on Wednesday, recorded a high voter turnout of 66.05%, up from 61.1% in 2019.

Early trends indicate that the Mahayuti coalition is leading in over 60 seats, while the MVA alliance is trailing with around 13 seats as per the postal ballot trends. Key leaders such as Devendra Fadnavis from the BJP, Jayant Patil from NCP, and Vijay Wadettiwar from Congress are showing strong performances. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is also leading from the Kopri Panchpakhadi assembly constituency.

The exit polls, though not always accurate, have largely predicted a victory for the Mahayuti coalition. Nine out of 11 exit polls studied by NDTV predict a dominant performance by the BJP-led alliance, with some polls giving the Mahayuti a minimum of 175 seats. However, MVA leaders, including Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, have dismissed these predictions, citing past inaccuracies in exit polls.

The increased voter turnout has been interpreted differently by both alliances. While the BJP sees it as a sign of support for the current government, conventional wisdom suggests that high voter turnout can be detrimental to the incumbent party. The districts of Kolhapur and Gadchiroli recorded the highest voter turnouts, with 76.63% and 75.26%, respectively.

The race for the Chief Minister’s post is also heating up, with both alliances having multiple candidates in contention. Within the Mahayuti coalition, there is speculation about whether Devendra Fadnavis or Eknath Shinde will take the top post if they secure a majority.

The Election Commission of India has ensured thorough preparations for the counting process, with necessary barricading and the appointment of micro observers and counting supervisors at the counting centers. The results are expected to be finalized by November 26, after which the new government will be formed, or else President’s rule could be imposed if no government is formed by then).