Maharashtra results 2019 | As it happened

While the BJP hails the verdict as a victory of its development agenda, the Opposition terms the outcome as a “moral defeat” for the saffron party.

October 24, 2019 06:30 am | Updated October 25, 2019 02:07 am IST

Ashok Chavan

Ashok Chavan

Counting of votes for Maharashtra assembly polls began at 8 a.m. The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance looks poised to win for a second consecutive term, but with fewer seats than expected. The all-important halfway mark of 145 seats has been crossed by the alliance.

 

Here are the latest updates:

10.45 pm

Ashok Chavan talks of keeping BJP away from power

As the BJP cannot form a government in Maharashtra on its own, the Congress should think of all options to keep it away from power, former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has said.

“The number of seats won by BJP and Shiv Sena is comparatively low compared to 2014. BJP cannot form government on its own. There might be new possibilities. The Congress high command should think of these options,” Mr. Chavan said.

The halfway mark in the Maharashtra Assembly is 144.

Asked if he meant the Congress and NCP should back the Shiv Sena, Mr. Chavan said, “This is a policy decision (to be taken). But Congress should think of every possibility to keep the BJP away from government.”

9.10 pm

Amit Shah to take decision on govt formation

The BJP parliamentary board has authorised party chief Amit Shah to take all decisions regarding government formation in Haryana and Maharashtra.

The board, which is the apex organisational body of the BJP, met in New Delhi after the party won a majority of seats in alliance with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and appeared set to form government in Haryana as well after emerging as the single largest party.

Party sources said there will be no change in Chief Ministers of any State, a decision on expected lines.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah, besides other senior party leaders, attended the board’s meeting.

 

9.05 pm

CM Fadnavis wins from Nagpur South West but margin falls

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defeated his nearest rival, Ashish Deshmukh of Congress by a margin of 49,344 votes from the Nagpur South West constituency, Election officials said on Thursday.

 

Mr. Fadnavis won from this constituency for the third time, but with a reduced margin.

He had won from the seat by 58,942 votes in 2014.

9 pm

BSP fails to open account; removes State unit chief

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Thursday removed its Maharashtra unit chief as the party failed to open its account in the assembly elections.

In a statement, BSP’s in-charge of Maharashtra Ashok Siddharth said Suresh Sakre contested assembly polls from Nagpur (North) against the wishes of the party and did not campaign for other candidates.

Mr. Sakre was defeated and the party too suffered, the statement said.

 

 

AAP finishes behind NOTA with 0.11% of votes

The Aam Aadmi Party got less votes than those cast in favour of NOTA in the Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly polls.

AAP had fielded candidates in 46 of the 90 seats in Haryana, while in Maharashtra, it had contested 24 seats.

According to the Election Commission (EC), most candidates of the Arvind Kejriwal-led party secured less than 1,000 votes in the two states and were set to lose to their security deposits.

The vote share of the AAP stood at 0.48% in Haryana, while for NOTA (none of the above), it was 0.53%, according to the EC.

In Maharashtra, the party got 0.11% votes, while NOTA’s vote share was 1.37%.

 

8.20 pm

 

 

Modi addresses party workers at BJP office

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  addresses party workers at the BJP headquarters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi on October 24, 2019. Twitter/@narendramodi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi on October 24, 2019. Twitter/@narendramodi

 

Mr. Modi says that people of Maharashtra and Haryana have reposed their trust in chief ministers of the two states and asserted that they will work even harder in the next five years to serve them.

Praising the leadership of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar, he says they have run clean administrations and won the trust of the people despite having no prior administrative experience when they took over in 2014.

In Maharashtra, Mr. Modi says that a Chief Minister has completed full term for the first time in 50 years and added that political stability is a must for an economically important state like it.

The BJP-run states work “seamlessly” to implement central schemes while the opposition-ruled states are busier in renaming them, he adds.

 

8 pm

Seven Ministers, Deputy Speaker lose seats

At least seven Ministers in the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra have lost the Assembly elections.

As the results came in on Thursday, the BJP-Sena alliance had won or was leading on 160 seats.

Shiv Sena leader and Deputy Speaker in the Legislative Assembly Vijay Auti lost to Nilesh Lanke of the NCP from Parner.

The most significant upset was witnessed in Parli, where Women and Child Welfare Minister Pankaja Munde of the BJP, locked in a bitter fight with her estranged cousin and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde, lost. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah had addressed rallies in Parli during the campaign.

Water Conservation Minister Ram Shinde lost to NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s grand-nephew Rohit Pawar in Karjat- Jamkhed. Minister of State for Dairy Development Arjun Khotkar, a Shiv Sena leader, lost from Jalna.

Another Shiv Sena leader, Minister of State for Water Conservation Vijay Shivtare, lost from Purandar seat to Sanjay Jagtap of the Congress.

Sanjay alias Bala Bhegade of the BJP, Minister of State for Labour, lost from Maval to the NCP’s Sunil Shelke. Jaydutt Kshirsagar of the Shiv Sena -- a former NCP leader -- lost to his nephew Sandeep Kshirsagar of the NCP in Beed. Agriculture minister Anil Bonde was defeated by Devendra Bhuyar of the Swabhimani Paksh from Morshi.

Minister of State for Energy and BJP leader Madan Yerawar was trailing in Yavatmal, but the result was yet to be declared.

7.50 PM

Congress-NCP will be a solid opposition: Ashok Chavan ‬

"‪I express deep gratitude to the people of Bhokar who have once again elected me to the Maharashtra State Assembly. We expected to do much better, but I am certain that Congress party along with NCP will be a solid opposition to the state BJP- Sena combine. ‪The Congress party has retained its base and we invigorated the party in the State," says Ashok Chavan, President of the Maharashtra Congress Committee. ‬

He also congratulated all the newly elected Congress legislators.

‪"I congratulate all newly elected Congress legislators and send warm wishes to Shri Sharad Pawar ji for an impressive performance. ‬‪Our work to expose the government and seek justice for the distressed farmer, jobless youth and common man and women of the state has got new energy. The Congress party is committed to give voice to voice less and strengthen the weak and meek," said Mr. Chavan.

7.25 pm

Maximum City delivers minimum seats for Congress

Riven by infighting ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls, the Congress on Thursday managed to win just four assembly seats out of the 29 seats it contested in Mumbai, faring poorly than in 2014.

Congress candidates Aslam Sheikh, Varsha Gaikwad and Amin Patel retained their Malad West, Dharavi and Mumbadevi constituencies, respectively, while party nominee Zeeshan Siddique wrested the Bandra East seat from the Shiv Sena.

Naseem Khan, a former Minister and Mumbai Congress heavyweight, lost his Chandivali seat by a slender margin of 409 votes.

In 2014, the Congress had won five seats in Mumbai, which has 36 assembly segments.

One of its sitting MLAs, Kalidas Kolambkar, who had won from Wadala, switched sides months ahead of the October 21 elections and successfully contested from the seat in Mumbai South Central as the BJP nominee.

Ahead of elections, the Mumbai Congress saw dissension in its ranks and war of words between its leaders.

Former Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam, miffed after being overlooked in ticket distribution, stayed away from campaigning and openly attacked the party leadership, earning a rebuke from the central brass.

As the results started pouring in on Thursday, Mr. Nirupam once again targetted the party’s Mumbai leadership and AICC general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge.

“Accountability needs to be fixed in the party. Who finalised the candidates for the seats in Mumbai and what efforts were taken to get them elected?" he asked.

7 pm

Poll verdict moral defeat for BJP: Congress

In its first reaction, the Congress which has marginally improved its tally along with ally NCP has termed the results a setback for the BJP and what the party stands for.

6.40 pm

Humbled to have got people’s support yet again in Maharashtra: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets: “People of Maharashtra have blessed the NDA with immense affection. We are humbled to have got the people’s support yet again. Our work towards Maharashtra’s progress continues! I salute each and every Karyakarta of the BJP, Shiv Sena and our entire NDA family for their hardwork.”

6 pm

Amit Shah thanks voters of Maharashtra

In a tweet in Hindi, BJP chief Amit Shah congratulates Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for their efforts.

“Thanks to the people of Maharashtra for expressing their confidence in the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the state government will continue to be dedicated to the progress of the state and service to the people,” Mr. Shah says.

5. 40 pm

Uddhav Thackeray stresses on 50-50 formula for sharing power with BJP

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, while speaking at a press conference in Mumbai on Thursday said, "People have given their mandate which is an eye opener for all political parties. But as parents we are proud that Aaditya is coming forward in politics."

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray addresses the media at the party headquarters in Dadar on October 24, 2019.

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray addresses the media at the party headquarters in Dadar on October 24, 2019.

 

When asked about Sena's share in power, Mr Thackeray said, "During Lok Sabha elections, a 50-50 formula was agreed upon with BJP. We were supposed to contest 146 seats each but BJP requested us, so we contested less seats. But I cannot adjust again, I want my party to grow. We will hold another meeting to further make the formula clear."

Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackery shows his election certificate to his mother Rashmi Thackeray as father and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray looks on in Mumbai on October 24, 2019.

Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackery shows his election certificate to his mother Rashmi Thackeray as father and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray looks on in Mumbai on October 24, 2019.

 

( Tanvi Deshpande )

 

 

5.30 pm

Dhananjay Munde ‘happy and pained’ over win against cousin Pankaja Munde

NCP leader Dhananjay Munde on Thursday said he was both “joyous and pained”, as he took an unassailable lead over his cousin and Maharashtra BJP Minister Pankaja Munde in Parli Assembly seat, which saw the two engage in recrimination in a high-voltage contest.

Mr. Dhananjay won the Parli seat by a margin of 30,071 votes.

He also thanked the people for his “unprecedented victory“.

On the other hand, Pankaja Munde dubbed her defeat was  “unexpected and inscrutable”, but said she accepted the people’s mandate humbly.

NCP leader Dhananjay Munde acknowledge his supporters after defeating his cousin and BJP candidate Pankaja Munde from Parli constituency

NCP leader Dhananjay Munde acknowledge his supporters after defeating his cousin and BJP candidate Pankaja Munde from Parli constituency

 

5.10 pm

Devendra Fadnavis disappointed on losing Satara and Parli

"The two seats we regret losing is Satara and Parli. We were confident that Pankaja Munde would win. Some of our Ministers have also lost and we will analyse this in due course. We think the rebellion has cost us and we will also look into that," says Devendra Fadnavis.

 

5.00 pm

Aaditya Thackeray wins by 67427 votes

Shiv Sena’s Aaditya Thackeray, the first in his political family to contest elections won by a margin of 67427 votes from Worli. He secured a total of 89248 votes whereas his nearest rival, NCP's Suresh Mane secured 21821 votes.

 

 

 

 

 

4.50 pm

Mandate in favour of BJP-Shiv Sena: Devendra Fadnavis

"This is a clear mandate in favour of BJP-Shiv Sena and there is no doubt who will form the government in Maharashtra. I feel the BJP' strike rate was 47% in the last poll but this time it is 70%. Our vote share has also increased even we have fought on lesser seats. This is a good performance," says Devendra Fadnavis.

"Opposition has no doubt increased seat share but we don't think it is concerning for us in a democracy. We hope they play a constructive role in the new assembly," Mr. Fadnavis adds.

4.00 pm

Two reality TV show contestants from Mumbai - Abhijit Bichukale and Ajaz Khan - who entered the electoral fray failed to make an impressive mark.

Mr. Bichukale, who was contesting from Worli against Shiv Sena’s Aaditya Thackeray had secured 773 votes by Thursday afternoon. The Big Boss Marathi (season 2) contestant who also competed from Satara secured merely 351 votes.

Mr. Khan who has participated in Big Boss 7 and has acted in some films and television serials secured 2174 votes. He is contesting from Byculla as an independent candidate. Taking on his rival, Mr. Khan posted a video on social media highlighting and accusing the sitting MLA Waris Pathan for his failing to do any impactful work during his five year term.

2.45 p.m.

Aaditya Thackeray may become Maharashtra’s youngest deputy CM?

Yuva Sena president and Shiv Sena candidate from Worli constituency Aditya Thackeray, participate in laughter club exercise during election campaign in Mumbai

Yuva Sena president and Shiv Sena candidate from Worli constituency Aditya Thackeray, participate in laughter club exercise during election campaign in Mumbai

 

With the Sena-BJP alliance all set to come to power in the State, Shiv Sena’s Aaditya Thackeray may become Maharashtra’s youngest deputy CM. While the poll counting continued, he had secured 79,299 votes and was leading by a very high margin of 58,026 votes on Thursday afternoon.

The young Thackeray scion, who is 29, made his electoral debut from Worli. While the Shiv Sena has time and again demanded that the young Thackeray be made the CM, media reports have quoted BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis who currently acquires the post saying that they will be happy to offer him the post of deputy CM. Mr. Thackeray himself has always maintained silence on whether he has been aiming at the top position in the State.

To date, Maharashtra has seen most deputy CM’s taking charge in their 50’s. In 2015, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s younger son Tejaswi Yadav was sworn as a deputy CM of Bihar at the age of 26.

( Jyoti Shelar )

2.30 p.m.

Richest candidate wins in Ghatkopar East

Maharashtra's richest candidate this Assembly election, BJP's Parag Shah has won from Ghatkopar East constituency. He defeated MNS's Satish Pawar by a margin of 53,319 votes. Mr Shah had declared assets worth around ₹500 crore.

( Tanvi Deshpande )

2.15 p.m.

BJP-Shiv Sena alliance leading in 21 seats in northern Maharashtra

The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is leading the nearly the same number of seats in north Maharashtra as they had won in 2014, when they had won 22 out of the 36 seats in the region. Their candidates are leading in 21 seats in the region and are on course to retaining nearly all the seats they had won. 

The few exceptions include Sinnar, where NCP candidate Manikrao Kokate is leading and is pitched in a tough fight against sitting Shiv Sena MLA Rajabhau Waza. The AIMIM is leading in Malegaon Central, while in Dhule City former BJP MLA Anil Gote, who rebelled and is contesting as an independent, is leading.

In an otherwise successful election for the NCP, Nandgaon may prove to be a sore point as sitting MLA from Nandgaon Pankaj Bhujbal is trailing against Sena’s Suhas Kande.

( Ajeet Mahale )

2 p.m.

First 6 results are out

The first six results are out for Maharashtra Assembly elections. According to Election Commission website, BJP's Sunil Rane, the sitting MLA from Borivali constituency, has won another term by a margin of 95,021 votes against Congress's Kumar Khillare.

In Shivadi constituency also, sitting MLA from Shiv Sena Ajay Choudhari has retained his seat by a margin of 39,337 votes, defeating MNS's Santosh Nalawade. In Uran, BJP rebel Mahesh Baldi, who contested as an independent candidate, has defeated sitting MLA Shiv Sena's Manohar Bhoir by a slim margin of 5,710 votes.

In Bandra West, State Minister BJP's Ashish Shelar has won another term by a margin of 26,507 votes. Congress corporator Asif Zakaria had posed a challenge to him but came in second.

In Chiplun constituency, NCP's Shekhar Nikam has defeated sitting MLA Shiv Sena's Sadanand Chavhan by 29,924 votes. In Mumbai's Dindoshi constituency, Shiv Sena MLA and former Mayor Sunil Prabhu has retained his seat despite the challenge of NCP's Vidya Chavhan. He won by a margin of 44,511 votes.

In Mumbai’s Sewri, Shiv Sena’s incumbent MLA Ajay Vinayak Chaudhari is leading with a total of 77,533 votes. His strong opposition, Congress’ Uday Vithal Phansekar had secured 13,354 votes by 1.30 p.m. on Thursday. Sewri, a Marathi dominated area has been a Sena stronghold and Mr. Chaudhari has been the party’s safe bet for a win. He had defeated MNS’ Bala Nandgaonkar with a high margin in 2014.

( Tanvi Deshpande, Jyoti Shelar )

1.40 p.m.

BJP’s claims of crossing the 220-seat-mark not accepted by people, says Sharad Pawar

The BJP’s claims of crossing the 220-seat-mark have not been accepted by people of Maharashtra, says Sharad Pawar, NCP chief. Addressing a press conference, he adds, “Opposition fought like a solid unit. Especially Congress and NCP showed unity and honestly worked for our candidates. I thank all of them.”

“Results show that people don't like arrogance of power. When you detach yourself from ground then people do not welcome it. Many leaders crossed their limits to make statements in campaign. People have not supported the turncoats, barring few exceptions,” says Mr. Pawar.

He also thanks the people of Satara for the NCP leading in the seat. Mr. Pawar says that there will be an NCP MLAs meeting after Diwali. “We tried to develop new leadership and we will be going to different places right from tomorrow to promote new leadership.”

“People have given us the mandate to sit in Opposition and we will follow it. I thank PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah for coming to Maharashtra at least for the sake of elections,” adds Mr. Pawar.

“I did not know that CM knew astrology and that is why he said that Pawar's politics in Maharashtra is over. But it is clear that he had nothing but personal allegations and nothing else to offer,” says Mr. Pawar.

( Alok Deshpande )

1 p.m.

BJP, Shiv sena supporters begin celebrations

Shiv Sena supporters begin celebrating at Tembhi Naka, Thane on Thursday, October 24, 2019.

Shiv Sena supporters begin celebrating at Tembhi Naka, Thane on Thursday, October 24, 2019.

Celebration begins at BJP headquarters in South Mumbai.

Celebration begins at BJP headquarters in South Mumbai.

 

12.50 p.m.

In Bandra East constituency, the tables are turning as Congress's Zeeshan Siddiqui is leading at 284,70 votes against Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, who is a close second at 26,783 votes

12.40 p.m.

BJP rebel candidate Geeta Jain is leading against sitting MLA from Mira Bhayander Narendra Mehta. Ms. Jain has won 49.89% out of the 92,989 votes counted as against Mr. Mehta who has won 29,816 votes.

Ms. Jain, a former mayor of the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation, was recently expelled from the BJP for taking back her nomination and is contesting as an independent.

12.30 p.m.

Nitesh Rane inching towards victory in Kankavli

The BJP's Nitesh Rane, son of former Chief Minister Narayan Rane, inching to victory in the Kankavli Assembly segment in Sindhudurg. The seat is a bastion of the Rane clan. The BJP's move to field Nitesh Rane (already the sitting MLA of Kankavli) had severely irked its ally, the Shiv Sena, which in turn propped up its own nominee, local Sena leader Satish Sawant.

Mr. Rane has taken a lead of more than 16,000 votes over Mr. Sawant.

Nitesh Rane had won the Kankavli seat in 2014 Assembly elections on a Congress ticket.  His father, Narayan Rane, had exited the Congress in 2017. Both father and son had only recently made their 'official' entries into the BJP. Mr. Rane, a former Shiv Sainik, has alleged the Sena of deliberately delaying his entry into the BJP because of the past acrimony between himself and the Sena.

( Shoumojit Banerjee )

12.20 p.m.

AAP candidates secure less than 1,000 votes

A majority of the 24 candidates fielded by the Aam Aadmi Party in this State Assembly election had secured less than 1000 votes by noon on Thursday.

Tribal rights activist Paromita Goswami, who was contesting from Chandrapur’s Brahmapuri had secured merely 851 votes. Delhi Chief Minister and AAP’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal had travelled to Chandrapur to campaign for Ms. Goswami, who has worked on the grassroots for the past several years. Congress’ Vijay Wadettiwar was leading in Brahmapuri with a total of 26227 votes. In Pune’s Kothrud, health activist Dr. Abhijit More had secured 679 votes by noon on Thursday while BJP’s Chandrakant Patil was leading with a total of 36122 votes.

 

12.10 p.m.

BJP HQ in south Mumbai wears festive look

The Bhartiya Janata Party headquarters in south Mumbai on Thursday wore a festive look, with party members and supporters already anticipating a huge victory in the 2019 State Assembly Elections.

Two wide projectors were put up, with news updates about the ongoing vote counting being played live, while seating arrangements were also made for the people flocking to the office. The BJP also arranged for traditional drummers beforehand, who were seen waiting patiently in one corner, even as the results kept coming in.

"We expect a total of 120-125 seats for the party. And around 190 seats for the BJP-Sena alliance. Our victory is affirmed." Ratan Joshi, party member and National In-charge of the Pradhan Mantri Jankalyankari Yojana (PMJKY) said.

 

12 noon

Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut to meet Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena leader and party MP Sanjay Raut says on October 24 that he is going to meet party president Uddhav Thackeray. “I am going to meet party president Uddhav Thackeray ji. The numbers are not bad and it happens like this all the time in elections. We will defintely continue the alliance with the BJP. We both (BJP/Sena) had agreed upon a 50:50 formula,” he says.

( Sharad Vyas )

11.55 a.m.

Rebels cost the BJP in Maval

In what is turning out to be a major upset for the ruling party, the NCP's Sunil Shelke has secured a decisive lead of more than 50,000 votes over the BJP's Sanjay 'Bala' Bhegade.

Mr. Shelke had entered the NCP just ahead of the Assembly polls after being denied a ticket by the BJP. Mr. Bhegade, who was made Minister of State for Labour, Environment, Relief and Rehabilitation, is seeking reelection for the third time. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had personally campaigned  for Mr. Bhegade.

( Shoumojit Banerjee )

11.50 a.m.

AIMIM leads in three seats

The AIMIM is leading in Aurangabad (East), Malegaon (Central) and Solapur (Central). The party is contesting in 44 seats this time and is trailing in the two constituencies it had won in 2014.

Abdul Gaffar Qadri of the AIMIM is leading, winning 86.67% seats out of the 44,204 counted. In Malegaon (Central) its candidate Mohammad Khalique is leading sitting MLA from Congress Aasif Shaikh by around 13,000 votes. It’s also leading against incumbent Congress MLA from Solapur (Central) Praniti Shinde.

( Ajeet Mahale )

11.45 a.m.

SP leads in Bhiwandi East, Mankhurd-Shivajinagar

One of the two seats where Samajwadi Party is leading in Maharashtra is Bhiwandi East. SP corporator from Byculla Rais Shaikh is leading with 18,979 votes.

Sitting MLA from Shiv Sena Rupesh Mhatre is a close second at 16,635 votes. The other SP candidate in the lead is Maharashtra SP chief Abu Azmi from Mankhurd-Shivajinagar constituency. He has a huge lead at 35,681 votes while Shiv Sena's Vithal Lokare is a far second at 8,737 votes.

( Tanvi Deshpande )

11.40 a.m.

IN Mumbai South, incumbent BJP MLA Mangal Prabha Lodha is leading with a huge margin of 20,271 votes. While Mr. Lodha has secured 29,479 votes, his close contestant Heera Navaji Devasi of Congress has secured 9,208 votes.

( Jyoti Shelar )

11.35 a.m.

VBA leads in Chandgad, Murtizapur and Risod seats

Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) is leading in three seats in the State — Chandgad in Kolhapur district, Murtizapur in Akola district and Risod in Washim district.

Murtizapur and Risod come under the Akola Lok Sabha constituency, which is the base of VBA chief Prakash Ambedkar. Mr. Ambedkar had polled 2.78 lakh votes from the constituency in the last Lok Sabha elections. The VBA is fighting in 264 seats in Maharashra.

( Ajeet Mahale )

11.30 a.m.

Wadala MLA Kalidas Kolambkar leading with over 20,000 votes

Wadala legislator Kalidas Kolambkar is looking at an eighth term from the same constituency. Mr. Kolambkar won his first four terms as MLA from Shiv Sena.

Even after he moved to Congress, he won three terms from the area. This year, after Lok Sabha elections, Mr. Kolambkar joined BJP. He is leading in the constituency at 20,391 votes. Congress's Shivkumar Lad is a far second at 6,648 votes.

( Tanvi Deshpande )

11.25 am

BJP leads in 29 of 62 seats in Vidarbha

In Vidarbha, where the BJP has consistently raised demand for a separate statehood on account of poor development, the party is leading on only 29 of the total 62 seats.

The Congress which has traditionally dominated the region is ahead on 15 along with five seats for the NCP.

The Shiv Sena is ahead here on seven seats.

( Sharad Vyas )

11.20 am

Worli: Aaditya Thackeray takes huge lead

Polling officers write total vote at Worli constituency,  after 2nd round of vote counting. Aditya Thackery leading with 13,834 votes.

Polling officers write total vote at Worli constituency, after 2nd round of vote counting. Aditya Thackery leading with 13,834 votes.

 

Twenty-nine-year-old Aaditya Thackeray who made his electoral debut from Worli is leading with a margin of 16,393 votes. His strongest opponent, Dalit activist and lawyer Suresh Mane (NCP) was far behind with merely 2,929 votes. By 11 a.m., the young Thackeray had secured 19,322 votes.

(Tanvi Deshpande)

Also read: Analysis: Aaditya Thackeray’s poll entry a fundamental change in a nativist party

11.15 am

Another Shiv Sena MLA who is trailing is Kalina's Sanjay Potnis. Mr. Potnis had won the 2014 Assembly election by a slim margin of 1,297 votes against BJP's Amarjeet Singh.

As of now, Mr Potnis has clocked 9,951 votes against Congress's George Abraham, leading at 11,269 votes. Mr. Abraham is a three-term corporator who resigned in his last term in 2006. He was fielded by Congress while sidelining heavyweight Kripashankar Singh, former MLA from this constituency.

( Tanvi Deshpande )

11.15 am

Hasan Mushrif leads with a slim margin in Kagal

Senior NCP leader Hasan Mushrif is locked in a contest in the Kagal Assembly segment in Kolhapur with his nearest rival, Independent candidate Samarjeetsinh Ghatge, who hails from a royal family in the district.

Mr. Mushrif, seeking re-election for the fifth time from Kagal, has secured a slender lead of a little over 1,200 votes over Mr. Ghatge after six rounds of counting.

Mr. Ghatge had joined the BJP in 2014 and was being projected as the party's candidate in this Assembly poll. He was also appointed as the chairman of the Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority (MHADA).  However, during the fractious seat-sharing arrangement, the Shiv Sena had claimed the Kagal seat for itself, giving a ticket to Sanjay Ghatge.

( Shoumojit Banerjee)

11.10 am

Young brigade leads in polls

Rohit Pawar of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), grandnephew of NCP chief Sharad Pawar is leading from Karjat-Jamkhed assembly constituency by over 9,428 votes against BJP Minister Ram Shinde.

The seat was won by the BJP for last five elections. Aditi Tatkare, daughter of NCP's Raigad MP Sunil Tatkare is leading by over 11,530 votes against Shiv Sena's Vinod Ghosalkar in Shrivardhan constituency of Raigad district.

Mr. Ghosalkar was shifted to Shrivardhan from Mumbai but does not seem to be making an impact. Ruturaj Patil of Congress, nephew of party's senior leader Satej Patil is leading in Kolhapur South constituency by over 8,768 votes against BJP's Amal Mahadik.

( Alok Deshpande )

11.05 am

CPI(M)'s J.P. Gavit leads by 5,182 votes from Kalvan assembly seat in Nasik district. Mr. Gavit is a seven-time MLA from the constituency. Despite having an alliance with the Congress-NCP, the NCP had fielded a candidate against Mr Gavit. The CPI(M) leader was the force behind much-famed farmers' long march in Maharashtra from Nasik and Mumbai.

11.00 am

Seven Ministers trail

The third to fourth round of counting trends indicate at least seven Ministers of the Devendra Fadnavis government trailing in Maharashtra.

Those trailing include Women and Child minister Pankaja Munde, Water Conservation Minister Ram Shinde, Minister of State for Energry, Tourism, Food and Drugs Administration and GAD Madan Yerawar, Waqf Board and Minority Affairs Minister Atul Save, Ministers of State Bala Bhegade, and Ministers Anil Bhonde and Ravindra Chavan.

 

10:55 am

 

At the end of fourth round in Versova constituency, Shiv Sena rebel Rajul Patel, who is contesting as an independent, has a lead with 8404 votes. Actor-turned-politician Baldev Khosa, who is a former Congress MLA and was fielded by the party once again, is trailing second at 7784 votes while sitting MLA, BJP's Dr Bharati Lavekar is running third at 4930 votes.

(Tanvi Despande)

10:55 am

 

AIMIM trailing in both the seats it won in 2014

Polling officers carry EVM from strong room, counting of votes  of 181 Mahim Assembly Constituency begins at Antonio D'Silva high School, Dadar. Shiv Sena candidate Sada Sarwankar leading after first round of counting. He is contesting against MNS candidate Sandeep Deshpande.

Polling officers carry EVM from strong room, counting of votes of 181 Mahim Assembly Constituency begins at Antonio D'Silva high School, Dadar. Shiv Sena candidate Sada Sarwankar leading after first round of counting. He is contesting against MNS candidate Sandeep Deshpande.

 

In Aurangabad Central, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen is trailing behind Shiv Sena candidate polling 15.7% of the 53,491 votes counted. Senior Shiv Sena leader Pradeep Jaiswal has a comfortable lead winning 62.61% votes. The seat was held by AIMIM state president Imtiaz Jaleel who won the Lok Sabha election from Aurangbad a few months ago. AIMIM had an alliance with Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi, whose candidate has won 13.32% votes in the constituency. 

In Byculla, sitting MLA Waris Pathan is trailing and has won only 3.44% of the 14,893 votes counted. Sena’s Yamini Jadhav has won 9,214 votes.

(Ajeet Mahle)

10:50 am

 

NCP Mumbai chief Nawab Malik has a big lead in Anushakti Nagar constituency. He has clocked 28,455 votes so far while sitting MLA from the constituency, Shiv Sena's Tukaram Kate is trailing at 18,131 votes

The third to fourth round of counting trends indicate at least six ministers of the Devendra Fadnavis government trailing in Maharashtra. Those trailing include Women and Child minister Pankaja Munde, Water Conservation Minister Ram Shinde, Minister of State for Energry, Tourism, Food and Drugs Administration and GAD Madan Yerawar, Waqf Board and Minority Affairs Minister Atul Save, Ministers of State Bala Bhegade, and ministers Anil Bhonde and Ravindra Chavan.

Mumbai South: Congress’ Amin Patel leads in Mumbadevi with 10937 votes. He is being trailed by Shiv Sena’s Pandurang Sakpal with 4283 votes. Mr. Patel had won the seat with a margin of 8513 in 2014.

 

10:50 am

 

Yevla constituency: Veteran NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal leading

Veteran NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal is leading in Yevla constituency polling 62.34% votes of the 9,365 votes counted. Mr Bhujbal is out on bail after being imprisoned for his alleged involvement in the Maharashtra Sadan Scam which is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate. His son Pankaj is leading in Nandgaon constituency polling 32.57% votes of the 41,755 votes counted.

(Ajeet Mahle)

As per the official data from the Election Commission of India website, leads of 288 out of 283 seats are out. BJP is leading at 99 seats while Shiv Sena on 61. Nationalist Congress Party and Congress are leading on 50 and 40 seats respectively. Prakash Ambedkar - led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi is leading on 3 seats.

(Alok Deshpande)

 

10:45 am

 

CPM's J.P. Gavit leads by 5182 votes from Kalvan assembly seat in Nasik district. Gavit is a 7-time MLA from the constituency. Despite having an alliance with the Congress-NCP, the NCP had fielded a candidate against Mr Gavit. The CPM leader was the force behind much-famed farmers' long march in Maharashtra from Nasik and Mumbai.

(Alok Deshpande)

It is neck-and-neck in Mumbai's Chandivali constituency with sitting MLA Arif (Naseem) Khan trailing at 3432 votes. Shiv Sena corporator Dilip Lande has a slight lead with 3606 votes at the end of round 1. Mr Khan is a four-term MLA, with last two terms from this constituency. Mr Lande is a former MNS corporator who joined Shiv Sena about two years ago and was given candidature from Chandivali.

(Tanvi Deshpande)

In Colaba, BJP’s Rahul Narvekar is leading with a margin of 7599 votes. While Mr. Narvekar has clocked 13631 votes so far, Congress’ Bhai Jagtap is trailing him with 6032. Mr. Narvekar had switched to BJP from NCP a day before filing his nomination.

(Jyoti Shelar)

 

10:15 am

 

Ahmednagar: Congress'-NCP alliance leading in eight of the 10 Assembly seats

While the BJP's Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil is leading from the Shirdi Assembly segment, early trends indicate that the Congress'-NCP alliance is leading on eight of the 10 Assembly seats in the western Maharashtra district of Ahmednagar.

Apart from Mr. Vikhe-Patil and Babanrao Pachpute (on the Shrigonda Assembly segment), the Congress-NCP is leading on remaining seats in the district.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Balasaheb Thorat is leading from his stronghold in the Sangamner Assembly segment, while the NCP's Rohit Pawar is consolidating his lead over the BJP's Ram Shinde.

Both Mr. Vikhe-Patil and Mr. Pachpute, until recently, belonged to the Congress and the NCP before defecting to the BJP.

A  long-standing rivalry between the Vikhe-Patil and the Pawar clans which climaxed in NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s alleged intransigence over refusing to leave the Ahmednagar Lok Sabha seat for Mr. Vikhe-Patil's son - Dr. Sujay Vikhe-Patil - had  led to Mr. Vikhe-Patil's estrangement with the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Since Dr. Sujay Vikhe-Patil's win in the Ahmednagar Lok Sabha constituency by a handsome margin, the senior Vikhe-Patil along with his son has thrown his full weight behind the BJP's campaign to ensure that all 10 seats in the district are won by the saffron alliance.

However, it appears that the Congress and the NCP could just spring a surprise.

(Shoumojit Banerjee)

10.10 am

 

Early trends indicate the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leading on eight seats each in the drought-hit Marathwada region of Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena and the BJP are ahead in 13 and eight seats each respectively.

The region bordering states of Karnataka and Telangana is witnessing several battle of prestige among prominent political families, including Rural Development Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pankaja Munde pitted against uncle’s son Dhananjay Munde from Parli Assembly constituency.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has fielded Sandeep Kshirsagar against his uncle and State Minister for Employment Guarantee Jaydutt Kshirsagar, who is an import into the Shiv Sena from the NCP.

In neighbouring Gevrai, the BJP’s Laxman Pawar is pitted against Amarsinh Pandit, whose uncle Badam Rao was defeated by Mr. Pawar in 2014. Mr. Amarsinh and Mr. Pawar are distant cousins.

(Sharad Vyas)

Polling staff carry EVM from strong room for counting at Hadapsar constituency, Pune.

Polling staff carry EVM from strong room for counting at Hadapsar constituency, Pune.

 

10:00 am

 

Bandra East: Mumbai Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar leading

Mumbai Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar from Shiv Sena is leading in Bandra East assembly constituency with around 7000 votes. The Mayor was fielded by the party after sidelining sitting MLA Trupti Sawant. Ms. Sawant then filed her candidature as an independent and is trailing. Congress's Zeeshan Siddiqui, son of Congress leader Baba Siddiqui, is also trailing.

 

9:55 am

 

Of Mumbai's 36 seats, BJP is leading in 13 seats, Shiv Sena is leading in 15 seats while Congress is leading in three seats.

Shiv Sena is contesting 19 seats in Mumbai while BJP is contesting 17 seats in the saffron alliance. Mumbai used to be considered a Shiv Sena bastion as the party controlled the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. However, in 2017 BMC elections, Shiv Sena won only a few seats more than BJP, marking BJP's growing prowess in the city.

(Tanvi Deshpande)

 

9:50 am

 

Muktainagar constituency: Independent candidate Chandrakant leading with 48.33% votes

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Rohini Khadse, daughter of veteran leader Eknath Khadse is trailing in the Muktainagar constituency in Jalgaon district. She is contesting the assembly polls for the first time. Independent candidate Chandrakant N Patil is in the lead with 48.33% of votes out of the 8,405 votes counted.  One of the strongest OBC leaders in the state, Mr Khadse who has been elected from the seat for six consecutive terms was denied a ticket this time due to his alleged involvement in a land scam. He was the revenue minister of the last state cabinet before being forced to quit.

(Ajeet Mahle)

 

9:50 am

 

Nagpur South West: Devendra Fadnavis leads with 1,500 votes

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis leads with 1,500 votes from Nagpur South West constituency. The 49-year-old Fadnavis had won by 48,000 votes over Prafulla Patil of the Congress in 2014 and is seeking re election for a fifth time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself endorsed a second term for Fadnavis calling 'Narendra-Devendra' formula a necessity for furthering development in Maharashtra.

(Sharad Vyas)

 

9:40 am

 

Solapur: Congress' Praniti Shinde trailing behind

Trends indicate that the Congress' Praniti Shinde, the daughter of former Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, is trailing in the Solapur City Central Assembly segment which is witnessing a four-way electoral contest.

Ms. Shinde, who is the sitting MLA and is seeking re-election for the third time, is facing stiff opposition from the CPI (Marxist)'s Narasayya Adam, the Shiv Sena's Dilip Mane and the Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) Rahul Sarvgod.

In the 2014 election, Ms. Shinde had won by a slender margin of 9,000 votes by defeating the the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM)'s Taufeek Sheikh.

In recent times, steady inroads by the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) and the AIMIM have posed a serious threat to the Shinde's hold over the segment.

The Shinde family's influence here has been seriously undercut with Dalit and Muslim voters gravitating towards the VBA and the AIMIM in recent times. This was reflected in Mr. Shinde's defeat in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls.

(Shoumojit Banerjee)

9:30 am

 

Karad South: Prithviraj Chavan in early lead

Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan leads from Karad South in western Maharashtra against BJP's Atul Bhosle and independent Udaysinh Undalkar. Mr. Chavan before the polling had said that the BJP is using all the money and muscle power to win the elections. In addition, the tenure of Mr. Chavan as a CM had created rift between Congress and NCP.

9:15 am

 

MNS opens its account in leads

Pramod Patil in Kalyan rural leads against Shiv Sena's Ramesh Mhatre. The seat was held by the Sena's Subhash bhoir. Mr. Patil's seat is said to be the strongest for the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) The party had won only one seat in 2014 and the MLA then shifted to the Sena before the Lok Sabha polls. The party was initially non-committal over fighting the election. Its president Raj Thackeray had opened front against the EVMs and even met national leaders inlcuding WB CM Mamata Banerjee, Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Former BJP MLA Anil Gote, who has rebelled and is contesting as an independent from Dhule city is leading. Mr. Gote had resigned from the MLA post protesting against BJP minister Girish Mahajan's allegedly authoritarian behaviour in neglecting others.

Congress MLA Basavraj Patil leads from Ausa in Latur district. He is contesting against Abhimanyu Pawar of the BJP. Mr. Pawar is the officer on special duty with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the BJP put in all its strength to defeat the Congress by arranging a rally of PM Narendra Modi. Congress too had arranged a rally of Rahul Gandhi. Mr. Patil was appointed as one of the executive president of the Maharashtra Congress few months back.

(Alok Deshpande)

 

9.00 am

In Satara Lok Sabha seat, NCP takes early lead

Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil of the Nationalist Congress Party has established early lead in the Satara parliamentary bypolls.

The constituency went for byelections because the NCP candidate Udayanraje Bhonsle, quit the party and joined the BJP. Mr. Bhonsle is the BJP candiate.  

8.50 am

 

Election staff waiting for  EVM machines at Elphinston Technical institute, one of the counting center in South Mumbai on October 24, 2019.

Election staff waiting for EVM machines at Elphinston Technical institute, one of the counting center in South Mumbai on October 24, 2019.

 

As per the initial trends, BJP is leading in 10 constituencies, NCP in 2 and Congress in three seats. The Shiv Sena is leading in five constituencies.

 

8:45 am

 

Karjat-Jamkhed seat: Early trends | NCP's Rohit Pawar leading

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stronghold since 1995, Karjat Jamkhed is witnessing a fierce prestige contest between BJP Minister Ram Shinde and Mr. Pawar, who is NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s grand nephew. Mr. Shinde, who is the Guardian Minister of Ahmednagar as well as the State’s Water Conservation Minister, is seeking re-election for the third time.

The seat is touted to be one of the most hotly contested in the entire Maharashtra Assembly election and is expected to throw up an unpredictable result. The youthful Rohit Pawar, who along with his cousin Parth Pawar represents the third generation of the Pawar family, has been carefully preparing his ground for the Assembly polls since the past couple of years.

Mr. Pawar has made his presence strongly felt in times of crisis, notably the drought this summer and the water scarcity which ravaged this constituency. Mr. Shinde has the advantage of the BJP machinery and the support of Congress turncoat, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, a sworn nemesis of the Pawar clan.

Moreover, Karjat has been a borough of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for several decades. Once a Congress citadel in the mid-1980s, the Assembly seat was held by the BJP’s Sadashiv Lokhande for three consecutive elections since 1995. Despite talks of development by both candidates, a strong caste factor – the division between the Dhangar and Maratha communities - is set determine the outcome of this contest.

Jamkhed, being the birthplace of Ahilyabai Holkar, the saintly 18th century queen of Malwa, who is revered by the Dhangar community. Analysts point out that a severe fragmentation of the Maratha votes had helped Mr. Shinde, who hails from the Dhangar community, to coast to victories in the 2009 and the 2014 Assembly elections. However, this time, he faces a tough challenger in the form of the youthful Mr. Pawar.

(Shoumojit Banerjee)

8:45 am

 

Kolhapur south: Ruturaj Patil in early lead

Trends indicate that the Congress' Ruturaj Patil, the nephew of senior Congress leader Satej ‘Bunty’ Patil, has taken a lead in the Kolhapur South Assembly segment over the BJP's Amal Mahadik, who is also the sitting legislator. A closely-fought battle is on the cards in the Kolhapur South Assembly segment where the contest is hinging on personal rivalries and loyalties and not coalition 'dharma'.

For the Kolhapur South electoral battle is yet another chapter in the long-running feud between Mr. Satej Patil and his avowed nemeis -  ex-NCP MP Dhananjay Mahadik – another recent BJP entrant who is Amal Mahadik’s cousin.

Interestingly, the young Ruturaj Patil is being openly supported by Sanjay Mandalik, the newly elected Shiv Sena MP of Kolhapur.

The reason for this strange ‘alliance’ between Mr. Patil and Mr. Mandalik transcending party ideology is that both are avowed adversaries of the powerful Mahadik clan and especially Dhananjay Mahadik, the former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP from Kolhapur who recently joined the BJP.

Mr. Patil has a history of political rivalry with the Mahadik clan, which controls most of the district’s vital nerve centers in the ‘sugar belt’ district of Kolhapur even when the Congress and the NCP have nominally been allies.

After winning the Kolhapur South Assembly seat twice in the 2004 and the 2009 State Assembly elections, Mr. Patil was defeated by Mr. Mahadik’s cousin Amal Mahadik.

However, it was sweet revenge for the Congressman after he managed to win the MLC seat in 2015 by defeating Amal Mahadik’s father, Mahadevrao Mahadik.

Despite the coalition between the Congress and the NCP, the differences between Mr. Patil and Mr. Mahadik have proved irreconcilable as the former refused to campaign for the latter in the recently concluded general election.

(Shoumojit Banerjee)

8:40 am

 

Kasba Peth seat:  Mukta Tilak in early lead

The BJP's Mukta Tilak, who is the Mayor of Pune, is leading from the hotly contested Kasba Peth Assembly segment. Ms. Tilak , a scion of Bal Gangadhar ‘Lokmanya’ Tilak’sfamily , is facing the Congress’ Arvind Shinde, a three-time corporator. Ms. Tilak was given a ticket after Girish Bapat, the ‘unchallenged king’ of the seat since 1995, won the LokSabha election from the Pune LS constituency.

The urban Kasba Peth segment, encompassing the heart of 'Old Pune', hadwitnessed an especially disappointing turnouts this time, recording a poll percentage figure of 43 as opposed to the 61% polling recorded in the 2014 Assmebly polls.

While the low voter turnout has sparked Congress' hopes of a win there, early trends indicate otherwise

(Shoumojit Banerjee)

 

8:40 am

Dhananjay Munde claims early lead in Parli assembly in Beed district

In Beed district, NCP's Dhananjay Munde has an early lead at what is touted to be one of the toughest battles in Maharashtra. He is contesting against his cousin and BJP Minister Pankaja Munde.

Munde cousins are fighting over the legacy of BJP leader late Gopinath Munde. The election was turned controversial after Mr. Munde allegedly made remarks over Ms. Munde which was followed by a police complaint and notice from State women commission.

(Shoumojit Banerjee)

 

8:30

 

Beed Assembly segment: Jaydutt Kshirsagar in early lead

The Shiv Sena's Jaydutt Kshirsagar,  who is the State Minister for Employment Guarantee and Horticulture, leads from the Beed Assembly segment. A former NCP leader who defected to the Sena, Mr. Kshirsagar is pitted against his own nephew, the NCP's Sandeep Kshirsagar. The elder Mr. Kshirsagar had switched allegiances to join the Sena in May after resigning as an MLA. He was promptly inducted into the State Cabinet by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis the next month and given the Employment Guarantee and Horticulture portfolios. In August, during the NCP’s Shiv SwarajyaYatra in Beed, Sandeep Kshirsagar , in a vitriolic campaign against his uncle, had alleged that the senior Mr. Kshirsagar had paid ₹50 crore for being inducted into the cabinet.

(Shoumojit Banerjee)

 

8.30 am

 

Nagpur South West: Devendra Fadnavis in early lead

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who is seeking his second term in office is leading from Nagpur South West Assembly seat. Mr. Fadnavis won the seat first time in 1999 and since then he has retained it. Mr. Fadnavis is challenged by Ashish Deshmukh of Congress. Mr. Deshmukh had won 2014 poll as BJP candidate from Katol seat in Nagpur dist. He resigned the party as a protest against its anti-farmer policies and had joined the Congress.

(Alok Deshpande)

 

8.20 am

Worli: Aaditya Thackeray in early lead

Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray is leading from Worli Assembly seat in South Mumbai. He is the first member of the Thackeray family to have entered electoral politics. Mr. Thackeray is challenged by Suresh Mane, a well-known Dalit ideologue who is contesting from NCP.

(Alok Deshpande)

8.10 am

 

Ajit Pawar leads from family ‘borough’ Baramati

Early trends show that senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has taken a lead in the Baramati Assembly segment, the bastion of the Pawar clan.

Mr. Pawar, who has held the constituency since 1991 and is seeking re-election for the seventh straight time, is pitted against Gopichand Padalkar, an influential Dhangar leader from Sangli, who is the BJP-Shiv Sena’s candidate for the Baramati Assembly seat.

Mr. Padalkar, who recently re-entered the BJP after defecting from Prakash Ambedkar’s Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), has been fielded with an eye on the formidable Dhangar constituency in Baramati.

The NCP leader had dramatically quit as Baramati MLA last month on grounds that he was allegedly “uneasy” after seeing his uncle, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, being named by the Enforcement Directorate in a case of alleged money laundering pertaining to the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB).

In the 2014 Assembly elections, despite the so-called ‘Modi wave’ and a high-decibel campaign by Prime Minister Modi himself in Baramati, Mr. Pawar had effortlessly retained his seat by a massive margin of nearly 90,000 votes.

Incidentally, in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Mr. Pawar’s cousin, Supriya Sule had a scare over the Baramati LS constituency battle when another influential Dhangar leader, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP) chief Mahadev Jankar – a BJP ally - nearly beat her, losing in the final tally by a slender margin of less than 70,000 votes.

(Shoumojit Banerjee)

8.00 am

 

Kothrud Assembly segment : Chandrakant Patil in early lead

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President, Chandrakant Patil leads from the Kothrud Assembly segment. Mr. Patil is pitted against the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s Kishore Shinde in a high-stakes contest. Instead of fielding a candidate of their own, the Congress-NCP alliance has come together to support Mr. Shinde, who has a formidable presence in Kothrud, in a bid to preclude vote fragmentation.

Mr. Patil, who is contesting his first Assembly polls, has had to face considerable opposition from locals who consider him an ‘outsider’ from Kolhapur, while having to quell discord within his own party ranks and that from Pune’s Shiv Sena leaders and other local Brahmin outfits.

The BJP had dropped Medha Kulkarni, its sitting MLA, to vacate the Kothrud Assembly seat for Mr. Patil as the seat is considered a BJP bastion and hence a ‘safe’ constituency for the latter, whose prestige is at stake in this contest.

Considered to be a close aide of Union Home Minister and BJP President Amit Shah, Mr. Patil had expressed confidence after polling day on October 21 that he would win the Kothrud seat by a victory margin of 1.6 lakh votes while the BJP-Sena alliance would bag more than 220 Assembly seats.

(Shoumojit Banerjee)

 

8.05 am

Bhokar Assembly seat: Ashok Chavan in early lead

Former Maharashtra chief minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan is leading from Bhokar assembly seat in Nanded district of Marathwada region. Mr. Chavan had lost his Lok Sabha election in 2019 and then decided to fight the assembly poll. The seat was presently held by his wife Amita.

(Alok Deshpande)

 

7:00 am

25,000 personnel to watch over counting in Maharashtra

The State Election Commission (SEC) has deployed near 25,000 personnel at 269 counting centres, where votes for the Assembly polls will be tallied on Thursday. All preparations are complete to conduct free and fair counting and announce results, additional chief electoral officer Dilip Shinde said.

He said one security guard along with an SEC-appointed observer will oversee the process of bringing the electronic voting machines (EVMs) from the strongrooms to the centres.

 

 

 

BJP to romp home, say exit polls

The News 18-IPSOS Exit Poll projected that the Mahayuti will win 243 seats, with the BJP on its own getting 141, just four short of the majority mark. The Shiv Sena, it claims, will get 102, placing it in a strong position to claim the deputy CM’s post.  The poll has projected a sharp fall in votes for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with a seat tally of 22 and the Congress at 17. The NCP and Congress had 41 and 42 seats respectively in the out-going Assembly.

TV-9 Marathi predicted 123 for BJP and 74 for Shiv Sena. The channel predicted practically no change in the Congress's tally of 40 seats and a drop in the NCP’s share to just 33 seats.

Republic TV- an Ki Baat polls gave BJP 135-142 and Shiv Sena 81-88. The Congress-NCP combine as their estimate will get 54 and others 11. India News is the only one give a clear majority to BJP projecting 144-150 seats. As per their predictions the Shiv Sena will be down to 44-50. It has predicted 74-89 seats for Congress-NCP, the highest given by any exit poll.

ABP C-Voter has predicted 204 seats for the Mahayuti, 69 for the Congress-NCP and 15 for others.

BJP-Sena sweep predicted in Mumbai, Konkan

The regional trends in the exit polls predicted a unanimous sweep for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena alliance in Mumbai and Konkan belts in the Assembly elections.

 

 

61.13% voter turnout

The polling held on October 21 saw a voter turnout of 61.13%, a dip from the 63.20% recorded in 2014, the official said.

The highest turnout, of 83.93%, was reported in the Karveer Assembly seat in Kolhapur, while the lowest was in south Mumbai’s upmarket Colaba area at 40.11%.

In the Satara Lok Sabha bypoll, also held on October 21, the voter turnout was 67.15%, the official said.

 

The bypoll was necessitated after NCP MP Udayanraje Bhosale quit the party and his Lok Sabha seat and joined the ruling BJP, which renominated him from the constituency.

The ruling BJP-Shiv Sena combine is arrayed against the Opposition Congress-NCP with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi being the dominant player among the other parties.

Most exit polls, released immediately after polling ended on October 21 evening, have given the ruling alliance a comfortable majority in the 288-member Assembly.

The State has 8,98,39,600 eligible voters, including 1,06,76,013 in the age group of 18 to 25 years. Nearly 6.5 lakh polling personnel were deployed at 96,661 polling booths across the state on election day.

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