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Sat Nov 23 04:15:25 UTC 2024: ## Maharashtra Assembly Election Results Due Today: Close Contest Predicted
**Mumbai, November 23** – Maharashtra is bracing for the announcement of its Assembly election results today, November 23rd, following the voting on November 20th. A tight race is anticipated between the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the BJP-led alliance.
The counting of votes will begin at 8:00 AM, starting with postal ballots, with EVM counts expected to commence around 9:30 AM. The BJP-led alliance, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction, aims to retain power. They face a strong challenge from the MVA, consisting of the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar’s NCP (NCP-SP).
The election saw a large number of candidates contesting. The BJP contested 148 seats, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) 80, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP 53. The MVA fielded 103 Congress, 89 UBT Shiv Sena, and 87 NCP (Sharad Pawar) candidates. Smaller parties like the BSP and AIMIM also participated.
Key contests include Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s reelection bid in Kopri-Pachpadi, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s contest against his nephew in Baramati, and the battle between Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) and Priful Kudathe (Congress) in Nagpur South West.
Exit polls predict a victory for the BJP-led alliance, though with varying seat projections. JVC-TimesNow projects 159 seats for the NDA, 116 for the MVA, and 13 for others. Other polls show a tighter contest, with some suggesting a possible MVA victory. The final results will determine which alliance will form the next government. The 2019 election saw the BJP win 105 seats, Shiv Sena 56, NCP 54, Congress 44, and others 16. A majority requires 145 seats in the 288-member assembly.
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