Sat Nov 23 04:14:36 UTC 2024: ## Maharashtra Election Results: Hung Assembly Looms, President’s Rule a Possibility

**Mumbai, November 22** – As vote counting for the Maharashtra Assembly elections concludes on Saturday, November 23rd, a potential political deadlock looms large. With several exit polls predicting a hung assembly, parties face a race against time to form a government before the current Assembly’s term expires on November 26th.

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) both need 145 seats in the 288-member house to form a government. However, four major exit polls suggest neither alliance will achieve a clear majority. C-Voter, for example, predicts 112 seats for Mahayuti and 104 for MVA, leaving the remaining seats too close to call.

Even if one alliance secures a majority, internal disagreements over the Chief Minister’s post could prove a significant hurdle. Within the MVA, Uddhav Thackeray is a strong contender, while the Mahayuti faces a contest between Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis.

The tight timeframe – a mere 72 hours after results are declared – increases the risk of President’s Rule being imposed under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution. This would mark the fourth instance of President’s Rule in Maharashtra since its reorganization, following similar situations in 2019 and 2014. In 2019, President’s Rule lasted 11 days after the BJP and Shiv Sena failed to agree on a Chief Minister.

The possibility of a hung assembly and subsequent political maneuvering highlights the importance of swift negotiations and compromises among the contesting parties. Failure to form a government within the deadline could lead to a period of uncertainty and instability in Maharashtra’s governance.

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