LIVE | Maharashtra election results 2024: Litmus test for Pawars, Thackerays | India News

Maharashtra Exit Polls 2024 Live Updates: With voting for Maharashtra’s 288 seats ending today, the stage is set for exit polls to be announced after 6:30 PM this evening. The elections in Maharashtra witnessed a high-level campaign that not only revolved around religious lines but also included welfare programs and promises of more financial assistance from both alliances: Mahayuti and the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Mahayuti is the ruling alliance that includes Shiv Sena, NCP and BJP, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi includes Shiv Sena-UBT, NCPSP and Congress besides some regional parties. The BJP is contesting 149 seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has fielded candidates in 59 constituencies. In the opposition alliance, Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95 and the NCP (SP) 86.

This is the first assembly election in Maharashtra for two major regional parties – Shiv Sena and the NCP, as they went to the polls after a split. The elections are a litmus test for Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar. While Thackeray faces a challenge from his former colleague Eknath Shinde, Sharad Pawar is locked in a fierce battle with his cousin Ajit Pawar. The two claimants to the popular legacy of Shiv Sena have pitted against each other in over 50 seats. The nominees of the two Pawar factions are pitted against each other in nearly 37 constituencies.

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