Fri Nov 22 08:21:33 UTC 2024: ## Exit Polls Predict BJP-Led Alliance Victory in Maharashtra Assembly Elections

**Mumbai, India –** Vote counting for the Maharashtra Assembly elections is underway, with a majority of exit polls predicting a victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance. Eleven exit polls surveyed by NDTV show the Mahayuti winning an average of 155 seats, surpassing the majority mark of 145. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), an alliance of the Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), is projected to win around 120 seats, according to these polls. However, exit polls are not always accurate, and one poll even predicts an MVA victory.

Nine exit polls point to a significant win for the Mahayuti, with some predicting over 175 seats for the BJP-led coalition. Only one exit poll, Electoral Edge, gives the MVA a narrow victory. Three other polls offer less definitive predictions. While some within the MVA, including Sena MP Sanjay Raut, have dismissed the exit polls, citing past inaccuracies, the BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis points to the high 65.1% voter turnout as a positive indicator for the incumbent government.

The high voter turnout, the second highest since 1995, has been interpreted differently by both alliances. While the ruling alliance sees it as a sign of support, conventional wisdom suggests high turnout often disadvantages incumbents.

The Chief Minister’s post is already generating speculation. Within the Mahayuti, there are competing claims between Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis. Similarly, within the MVA, Congress and the Shiv Sena are vying for the top position. The NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar hopes to play a kingmaker role, although its allegiance remains unclear.

The 2019 election saw a BJP-Shiv Sena victory, but a subsequent power struggle and party splits have dramatically reshaped the political landscape. The current election follows a period of significant political turmoil and legal battles concerning party defections and disqualifications. The final results will determine the next government and Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

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