Election 2024 Highlights: Most exit polls predict NDA win in Jharkhand, Mahayuti in Maharashtra

Election 2024 Live: BJP candidate from Chandankiyari in Jharkhand, Amar Kumar Bauri, expressed confidence ahead of voting, saying, “It is the morning of hope for Jharkhand. As the state completes 25 years, the people will choose a government that will rule for the next five years. There is an atmosphere to protect 'maati-beti-roti'. I am going to vote, and we will secure a full majority to form the government.”

Election 2024 Live: Polling is underway for the byelection at Khair, a reserved assembly seat in Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh. The BJP has won the last four elections in this Jat-dominated constituency, with BJP candidate Anup Pradhan securing a victory in the 2022 Assembly election. However, Pradhan contested and won the Lok Sabha election this year from the reserved Hathras seat. In this by-election, Surendra Diler is the BJP candidate, facing Dr. Charu Ken from the SP and Pahal Singh from the BSP.

Election 2024 Live: BJP candidate C Krishnakumar cast his vote at a polling booth in Palakkad for the assembly byelection. The United Democratic Front (UDF) has fielded Rahul Mamkootathil, while the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has nominated P Sarin for the seat.

Election 2024 Live: After casting his vote in Mumbai, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das commended the arrangements at the polling station, saying, "The arrangements were very good. I congratulate the Election Commission." He also expressed optimism about voter turnout, noting, “Since the elections are being held in the middle of the week, everyone is expecting a high voter turnout.”

Election 2024 Live: Maharashtra minister and BJP candidate from Kothrud, Chandrakant Patil, urged citizens to increase voter turnout, saying, “Voting percentage should increase. I appeal to people to come and vote.” He also mentioned motivating 20-25 NGOs to offer incentives, such as coffee, for voters who cast their ballots between 7 am and 11 am. Responding to allegations of money distribution against BJP leader Vinod Tawde, Patil said , “He cannot do this.”

Election 2024 Live: NCP-SCP candidate Yugendra Pawar, on his way to the polling station, expressed confidence in his campaign efforts, stating, “We have worked hard during the campaign, and we are confident that the people will not forget Pawar saheb and won't forget us.” Responding to allegations of Bitcoin misappropriation, Yugendra clarified, “I was busy and didn’t see the audio clip, but the allegations are baseless. Our leader Supriya Sule has already addressed it.” Regarding the search operation at his office two days ago, he said, “We are law-abiding people and have cooperated with the officials. Ultimately, nothing came of it.” On the issue of his grandmother (Ajit Pawar's mother) being dragged into politics, he said, "My grandmother is unwell, yet she was brought to the last rally in Baramati from Mumbai on Monday. It made me uneasy."

Election 2024 Live: Voting for the Phulpur assembly byelection in Prayagraj district has begun and will continue until 5 pm. A total of 12 candidates are contesting in the bypoll, with 4,07,977 eligible voters. However, the key contest is between SP candidate Mujtaba Siddiqui and BJP's Deepak Patel. The Phulpur seat became vacant after BJP MLA Praveen Patel was elected as an MP in the 2024 Parliamentary elections. Voting is taking place at 435 polling booths, with webcasting provided for 228 booths.

Election 2024 Live: After casting his vote in Baramati, Maharashtra deputy chief minister and NCP candidate Ajit Pawar expressed confidence that he will win and that the Mahayuti alliance will form the government in Maharashtra.

Election 2024 Live: Mumbai BJP president and candidate from Bandra West Assembly constituency, Ashish Shelar, cast his vote at a polling station in St. Stanislaus High School in Bandra, Mumbai.

Election 2024 Live: After casting his vote, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said, “In a democracy, voting is a citizen's duty. Every citizen should perform this duty. I was in Uttaranchal, but I came here last night to cast my vote. Everyone should vote. I came specially to vote in Nagpur.”

Election 2024 live: On the eve of voting for the nine Uttar Pradesh assembly seats, a hoarding and a statement surrounding the slogan 'batenge toh katenge' (divided we perish) sparked attention. The hoarding, displayed by Uttar Pradesh BJP Secretary Abhijat Mishra at Lucknow's 1090 Crossing, and a statement by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav both focused on this powerful slogan, adding to the political discourse as the state prepares for the bypolls.

Election 2024 live updates: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP candidate from Baramati Assembly constituency, Ajit Pawar, spoke to the media as he arrived at a polling station in Baramati to cast his vote.

Election 2024 live updates: Amravati Presiding Officer Vijay Raut informed that a total of 1,365 people will cast their votes at the polling station. He added that mock polling began at 5:30 AM and was successfully conducted. Raut mentioned that 27 candidates are contesting elections at this polling station.

Election 2024 live updates: Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi urged everyone to step outside and exercise their voting rights as voting for the second phase of elections is set to begin shortly.

Election 2024 live updates: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat arrived at a polling booth in Nagpur to cast his vote for the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Election 2024 live updates: As voting for the Uttar Pradesh bypolls approaches, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has accused the ruling BJP of issuing 'Red cards' against SP workers, alleging a collapse of law and order in the state. Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav claimed that "Red cards" are being handed out to SP workers, creating pressure ahead of the elections. She further alleged that while citizens should be allowed to vote freely, the BJP is working to discourage voter participation.

Election 2024 Live: A day before the second and final phase of polling for the Jharkhand Assembly elections, Congress on Tuesday presented a clear choice for voters. Congress General Secretary in-charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, said voters face a decision between the seven guarantees offered by the INDIA bloc and the BJP’s "politics of hatred" and its approach of undermining "jal-jungle-zameen" (water, forest, land). Ramesh assured that the INDIA bloc, if given a mandate, would implement all seven guarantees in the next term and ensure the protection of Jharkhand’s culture and tribal identity.

Election 2024 Live: Shaina NC, the Shiv Sena candidate from the Mumba Devi seat in Maharashtra, visited the Shri Mumbadevi Temple in Mumbai to offer prayers ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Election 2024 Live: Ahead of polling in Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed voters to take part with enthusiasm. He wrote on X (formerly Twitter) “Today, votes will be cast for all the seats of Maharashtra Assembly elections. I urge the voters of the state to be a part of it with full enthusiasm and add to the splendor of the festival of democracy. On this occasion, I appeal to all the youth and women voters to vote in large numbers.”

Election 2024 Live: Mock polling being conducted at polling booths number 29 and 28 located at Model Middle School Kathikund which is part of Shikaripada (ST) Assembly seat of Jharkhand Assembly.

Election 2024 Live: Polling for the Jharkhand assembly elections will begin at 7 am on Wednesday across 14,218 polling stations, continuing until 5 pm, except for 31 booths where voting will close at 4 pm. A total of 1.23 crore voters, including 60.79 lakh women and 147 third-gender voters, are eligible to vote. A total of 528 candidates, including 472 men, 55 women, and one third-gender candidate, are contesting the election. The JMM-led coalition is seeking to retain power, highlighting its welfare schemes, while the BJP has raised issues of Hindutva, “infiltration from Bangladesh,” and alleged corruption in the current government.

Election 2024 Live: Lok Sabha MP Pappu Yadav on Tuesday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of promoting division and fostering hatred in various states during election campaigns. Speaking to ANI, Yadav claimed that the BJP has stirred tensions against the Jaat community in Haryana, the Sikh community in Punjab, and the Maratha community in Maharashtra. He further emphasised that Jharkhand, being a “peace-loving state,” should not fall prey to such politics of division.

Election 2024 Live: The stage is set for the second and final round of the Jharkhand assembly elections on Wednesday, with the JMM-Congress-RJD coalition aiming to retain power, while the BJP-led NDA seeks to wrest control. This phase will be crucial for the electoral fate of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren (both JMM), Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri (BJP), and over 500 other candidates contesting across 38 of the 81 assembly seats.

Election 2024 Live: Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday criticised the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government, claiming there is "no governance" in the state. He alleged that women are unsafe, youth lack opportunities, and corruption has worsened people's struggles. Chouhan emphasised the need for change in Jharkhand and asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party would bring transformation if voted to power.

Election 2024 Live: Mock polling is underway at a polling booth in the Gidderbaha Assembly constituency, located in Sri Muktsar Sahib district of Punjab. BJP candidate Manpreet Singh Badal is contesting against Congress' Amrita Warring, wife of state Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, and AAP's Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon in the by-election.