New Delhi: The Maharashtra Election Results 2024 are eagerly awaited as the state witnessed an enthusiastic voter turnout, the highest in thirty years. Competing for control, the alliances—Mahayuti (BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP) and Maha Vikas Aghadi (NCP(SP), Shiv Sena(UBT), and Congress)—are both hopeful for victory, though five out of nine exit polls favor a comfortable win for the BJP-led coalition.
This election holds particular significance for the divided Shiv Sena and NCP, following recent internal splits. Should the Maha Vikas Aghadi emerge victorious, they will face the additional challenge of agreeing on a chief ministerial candidate amid internal disagreements.
The election was largely peaceful, but it was marred by controversies, including a multi-crore bitcoin scam that brought attention to figures like Mr. Patole and NCP(SP) MP Supriya Sule. Additionally, BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde was at the center of allegations regarding a cash-for-votes scandal, with claims that he distributed ₹ 5 crore.
LIVE Updates on Maharashtra Election Results 2024:
Nov 23, 2024, 07:43 AM (IST)
Maharashtra Assembly Elections: A Look Back at 2019
In the 2019 elections, the BJP and the undivided Shiv Sena secured a major victory, winning 105 and 56 seats, respectively. However, these results were lower than their 2014 performance. Meanwhile, the NCP secured 54 seats, and the Congress captured 44.
The political landscape shifted dramatically after the election when long-time allies, the BJP and Shiv Sena, could not reach an agreement on power-sharing. This led to Mr. Thackeray's surprising alliance with the Congress and Sharad Pawar's NCP, sidelining the BJP.
However, internal strife led to the fall of the MVA government after a rebellion led by Eknath Shinde, who then formed a new alliance. A year later, the NCP experienced a similar split, with Ajit Pawar and his supporters joining the BJP-Shinde alliance, and he was subsequently appointed Deputy Chief Minister.
Maharashtra's political scene has since been turbulent, with legal battles reaching the Supreme Court over MLA disqualifications and the legitimacy of various party factions. This election is expected to resolve questions about the 'real' Shiv Sena and NCP leadership.
Maharashtra Assembly Election Results 2024: Exit Polls Indicate Strong Mahayuti Victory
According to nine exit polls, the Mahayuti alliance is anticipated to deliver a dominant performance in these elections.