Election results Highlights: CM Eknath Shinde picked as Shiv Sena's legislative leader

Election results live: As the tenure of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly is set to conclude on November 26, sources within the Legislature and Mahayuti said on Saturday that there is "no constitutional" requirement for the new government to be formed or the swearing-in of the new Chief Minister should take place before the November 26.

According to the sources, the assumption that the President's Rule will be imposed in the state after midnight on November 26 in "incorrect." (ANI)

Election results live: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was elected as the leader of Shiv Sena legislative party. The motion was moved by Industries Minister Uday Samant.

Election results live: Congress legislature party in Jharkhand held a meeting of elected MLAs and sent a resolution to the party president Mallikarjun Kharge. The party also chose Hemant Soren to lead the INDIA bloc in Jharkhand.

“We have chosen Hemant Soren as the leader of the alliance and have extended our support. Hemant Soren tendered his resignation at the Raj Bhavan and the Governor accepted the resignation...Hemant Soren staked claim to form the new government,” said Jharkhand Congress in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir.

Election results live: Maharashtra minister Deepak Kesarkar said that Shiv Sena MLAs feel Eknath Shinde should continue to work as the state chief minister.

"Shiv Sena MLAs feel Shinde should continue in the post because under his leadership the Mahayuti worked very well and performed spectacularly in polls," Kesarkar told reporters.

He, however, added that Shinde and Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) and Ajit Pawar (NCP) will take a unanimous decision on the CM issue.

Election results live: Expressing gratitude to the people for greeting him on his electoral success, JMM leader Hemant Soren on Sunday urged those coming to meet him to gift him books, not flower bouquets.

"My heartfelt thanks to everyone for the good wishes I am receiving from across the country. Like 2019, I would again request everyone that if you are coming to meet me, then instead of a 'bouquet', give me a 'book'," he posted on X.

"While I was in jail, I got a lot of time to read the books that you all gifted me. Thank you to everyone for this," he added.

Union Minister & RPI-Athawale President, Ramdas Athawale said his party was not granted ministerial birth in Maharashtra when CM Eknath Shinde assumed power and demanded a ministerial birth in the new Mahayuti government.

“This time, Mahayuti received a huge number of votes from the Dalit and the Buddhist community, which played a crucial role in their win in Maharashtra. That is why I demand that RPI should get at least one ministerial position and one MLC, which has also been promised to us by Devendra Fadnavis,” said the minister.

Election results live: Sharad Pawar acknowledged that nephew Ajit Pawar, who now heads the faction recognised by the Election Commission as the ‘real NCP’, won more seats than his party in the polls.

“No qualms in accepting Ajit Pawar, who got more seats in Maharashtra polls, but everyone knows who the NCP founder is,” Pawar said. Read more

Election results live: Sharad Pawar expressed disappointment on the Maharashtra assembly election result and noted that the Ladki Bahin scheme was a “key factor” in swaying women's votes in favour of Mahayuti.

“Mahayuti also told people that if they don’t come back to power, this scheme will be closed,” Pawar alleged.

“The result is not as per our expectations. But will go to people with new enthusiasm,” said Pawar while addressing a press conference in Karad.

Election results live: “The results of Maharashtra Assembly elections are astonishing. MVA will reflect upon the reasons for the defeat but questions are raised about the fairness of the election process. I extend best wishes to the new government of Maharashtra. In Jharkhand, the government of INDIA alliance is formed and I extend best wishes to Hemant Soren,” said Congress MP Deepender Hooda.

Election results live: Jharkhand chief minister and JMM executive president Hemant Soren met Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwat to tender his resignation and staked claim to form the next government.

“Today we have started the procedure to form the (INDIA) alliance government and in that series, we have staked a claim to form Government in front of the Governor. I also tendered my resignation to him...Congress and the RJD in charge were also present here. On 28 November the oath ceremony will take place,” Soren said.

Maharashtra election result live: Political Analyst Tehseen Poonawalla said the opposition MVA did not raise real issues of Maharashtra. He also said the MVA partners attacking each other before polls created a “very bad perception”.

“There was this polarization and the actual issues of Maharashtra, which were employment, industries going out of Maharashtra, and farmers none of those issues were raised. And if they were raised, the solutions weren't given,” he added.

Election results live: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said the party accepts the people's verdict and will examine the results to strengthen the party.

“We raised the same issues in Maharashtra as we did in Jharkhand, whether it is the rights of the SC ST and OBC or unemployment or inflation issue. Yes, the verdict of Jharkhand is different from the verdict of Maharashtra. We accept the verdict,” Gogoi said.

Election results live: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was also in charge of the BJP's election campaign in Jharkhand, said the issue of “infiltration” will continue to pose a “huge problem” for the state in the “near future”.

“I request the Jharkhand government to remove the intruders and fulfil their constitutional responsibility. As the opposition, BJP will keep highlighting this issue in the Vidhan Sabha,” Sarma said.

Maharashtra election result live: BJP Maharashtra chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said voters in Maharashtra and Haryana voted against the opposition after realising the truth about their “fake” narratives.

“Maharashtra will not have a leader of the opposition (LoP) this time. This is the result of the wrong deeds of Congress and the opposition. They spread fake narratives in Lok Sabha Elections and duped voters at that time. So when people came to know about this in assembly polls, voters kicked them out as they did in Haryana,” said Bawankule.

Maharashtra election result live: Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that party workers and supporters want Devendra Fadnavis to become the next chief minister of the state. He also admitted that all three parties of the ruling alliance have similar aspirations.

On the party's new membership target, Bawankule said the party has set a target of enrolling 1.51 crore preliminary members in Maharashtra and a membership drive will be launched soon.

Maharashtra election result live: Following the landslide victory of the Mahayuti alliance in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule chaired a meeting of the party's membership campaign committee. He emphasized expanding the party's membership significantly in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde faction will hold its legislative party meeting on Sunday evening at the Taj Lands End Hotel to formally elect its leader.

Out of 288 assembly seats, the Mahayuti secured 231 in the recently concluded elections. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde described the alliance's win as a "record-breaking victory" on Saturday evening.

Maharashtra election result live: NCP meeting underway at the residence of Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar.

Maharashtra election result live: Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, a low-profile and affable politician, has missed the chance of winning a ninth consecutive term to the state assembly.

Maharashtra election result live: Independent candidate Shivaji Patil, who won from Chandgad assembly constituency was injured in a fire during his victory celebrations Saturday night, an eyewitness said. Some women who were in the procession have also been injured, the eyewitness said. The video of the incident has gone viral on social media. When the women were performing 'aarti' of Shivaji Patil at Mahgaon, a large quantity of ‘gulal’ fell from a crane onto their 'aarti' plates causing a blaze, he said. Along with Shivaji Patil, a few women also sustained burns, he added. Shivaji Patil defeated NCP’s Rajesh Patil by 24134 votes in Chandgad in western Maharashtra.

Maharashtra election result live: Following is the party position after the announcement of results for elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly:

BJP 132

Shiv Sena 57

NCP 41

Shiv Sena (UBT) 20

Congress 16

NCP (SP) 10

Samajwadi Party 2

Jan Surajya Shakti 2

Rashtriya Yuva Swabhimani Party 1

Rashtriya Samaj Paksha 1

AIMIM 1

CPI(M) 1

PWP 1

Rajarshi Shahu Vikas Aghadi 1

Independents 2.

Maharashtra election result live: Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Sunday described his party's defeat in the state assembly elections as "shocking" and the "worst-ever" loss in the state.

Speaking to PTI, Chavan attributed the setback to the Mahayuti government's Ladki Bahin Yojana, which resonated strongly with rural voters, and polarisation that hurt the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) chances in urban areas.

"The Ladki Bahin Yojana proved effective in garnering support in rural regions, while urban areas witnessed significant polarisation," he said.

Chavan, who lost his Karad South seat, added, "It is difficult to say whether the outcome was due to a wave or tampering."

Maharashtra election result live: AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal described the Maharashtra assembly poll results as "shocking" and “unbelievable".

Speaking to a TV channel, Venugopal said, "We don't understand what happened. It was not just the Congress's debacle but a setback for the entire Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). We need a clear picture before drawing conclusions."

He expressed surprise over the election process, citing setbacks in the strongholds of Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, and the Congress. When asked about possible sabotage, he said the party would not make such allegations immediately after the loss.

"We will sit together and collectively introspect the reasons for this failure," he added.

Maharashtra election result live: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Tamilisai Soundararajan, commenting on the Maharashtra Assembly election results, expressed optimism about Tamil Nadu's future political scenario. She stated on Sunday that the day was not far when the people of Tamil Nadu would recognize and support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's developmental initiatives.

Speaking to the media, Soundararajan said, "The people have shown their support for good governance and development. Similarly, I believe the time is nearing when the people of Tamil Nadu will back the positive projects of Narendra Modi. By the 2026 Assembly elections, they will evaluate who truly works for their welfare and vote accordingly."

Election results live: After the BJP-led NDA's defeat in the Jharkhand elections, party spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo expressed disappointment, stating on Sunday that they were "upset" by the loss despite their efforts. He also emphasized that the party would play the role of a responsible opposition.

Speaking to ANI, Shah Deo noted that while the BJP achieved a landslide victory in Maharashtra and in various by-elections across the country, their success stalled in Jharkhand. He said, "We, along with our allies, made every effort. As a responsible opposition, we will offer constructive support to Hemant Soren's government, while also acting as a watchdog to prevent corruption, especially after the allegations of scams during the previous tenure. Our role is to ensure accountability in the government and raise concerns about any wrongdoings."

Election results live: Several candidates secured victories in the Maharashtra assembly polls by narrow margins, including an AIMIM nominee in Malegaon Central and state Congress chief Nana Patole.

AIMIM sitting MLA Mufti Mohammad Ismail Abdul Khalique triumphed over Asif Shaikh Rasheed of the Indian Secular party by just 162 votes in Malegaon Central, located in Nashik district.

In Sakoli, Bhandara district, Congress leader Nana Patole defeated BJP's Avinash Brahmankar by a slim margin of 208 votes, according to the results announced by the Election Commission on Saturday.