Thu Nov 21 13:52:48 UTC 2024: ## Maharashtra Records Second-Highest Voter Turnout in Decades, Exit Polls Predict Mahayuti Win

**Mumbai, India –** Maharashtra witnessed a significant 65.1% voter turnout in Wednesday’s Assembly elections, the second highest since 1995 and the best in a decade. While this surge surpasses the 63.4% recorded in both 2004 and 2014, it falls short of the record 71.5% in 1995. Turnout varied significantly across the state, with Naxal-affected Gadircholi and Nashik exceeding 70%, while Mumbai lagged at only 54%, an improvement over the 50.67% in 2019 but still reflecting concerns about urban apathy. Suburban Mumbai’s turnout was a mere 39.34%. The Marathwada region, however, saw a robust average turnout of 69.65%.

Both the ruling Mahayuti alliance (BJP, Shinde Sena, Ajit Pawar faction of NCP) and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress, Uddhav Thackeray Sena, Sharad Pawar faction of NCP) have interpreted the high turnout as a positive sign. Conventional wisdom suggests high turnout often hurts incumbents.

Exit polls, however, paint a different picture. An average of nine exit polls analyzed by NDTV predicts a Mahayuti victory, with 150 seats compared to the MVA’s 125. Five polls project a clear Mahayuti win, while three suggest a close race, and one forecasts an MVA victory. The results will be announced on Saturday.

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis expressed confidence, citing the high turnout as historically beneficial to his party. In contrast, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut dismissed the exit polls as fraudulent and predicted an MVA win, pointing to past inaccuracies in exit polls.

The 2019 elections saw a BJP and Shiv Sena victory, followed by a dramatic fallout and the formation of an unexpected tripartite MVA government, which eventually collapsed due to an internal rebellion led by Eknath Shinde. The subsequent power struggles and court battles have dominated Maharashtra politics leading up to this election. The NCP also experienced a significant split, with Ajit Pawar joining the Mahayuti. The upcoming results will determine the next chapter in this turbulent political landscape.

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