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Maharashtra Election Result 2024 | BJP-led Mahayuti poised to retain power

Maharashtra Election Result 2024: The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is poised to return to power as per trends. The alliance is leading with 217 of the 288 assembly seats, as per the latest figures by the Election Commission, and Maha Vikas Aghadi candidates are leading in 50 seats, as the counting of votes commenced on Saturday.

In the first and the only result declared so far by the Election Commission, BJP's Kalidas Kolambkar from Wadala defeated Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Shraddha Jadhav by 24,973 after 16 rounds to become a legislator for the ninth time in a row. As per ECI figures, in the Mahayuti, BJP candidates won 123 seats, Shiv Sena gained 55 and NCP 38 seats.

In the MVA, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidates won 13 seats, and Congress and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) gained 19 seats each. 

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 vote counting. As per the figures provided by the Election Commission officials, Shinde was leading by 4,053 votes while Fadnavis was leading by 2,246 votes and Pawar by 3,759 votes. 

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole is leading by 344 votes. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and sitting MLA Aaditya Thackeray is leading by 495 votes, the poll officials said.

Congress Legislature Party leader and former minister Balasaheb Thorat received 1,831 votes in early trends, with 1,590 votes for Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan, officials added. 

The elections, held across 288 constituencies on November 20, recorded a voter turnout of 66.05 percent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019. Kolhapur reported the highest participation at 76.63 per cent, while Mumbai Island City had the lowest at 52.07 per cent.

This election has been a closely contested battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. The Mahayuti comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), while the MVA includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction).

Exit Polls
Exit polls are divided, with some favouring the Mahayuti to retain power and others hinting at a potential comeback for the MVA. Leaders from both alliances, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, have expressed confidence in securing victory and forming the next government.

Key constituencies
High-profile constituencies are being closely monitored, including Kopri-Pachpakhadi, where Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is contesting, and Nagpur South West, where Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is seeking re-election. Aaditya Thackeray in Worli, Ajit Pawar in Baramati, and Zeeshan Siddique in Bandra East are among other key candidates whose results could significantly influence the state’s political future.

Where to watch
The Election Commission of India will provide live updates on the official website at eci.gov.in and results.eci.gov.in. The outcome of this pivotal election will determine the future leadership of Maharashtra and influence key developmental projects and policies.