Maharashtra election 2024 result: Vote counting date and time

Maharashtra Election Result: Exit poll projections gave an edge to the Mahayuti over the Maha Vikas Agadhi in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Maharashtra and Jharkhand voted to pick their next government on Wednesday. While Jharkhand voted in two phases (November 13 and 20), Maharashtra voted for all its 288 constituencies in a single phase on Wednesday, November 20. The Maharashtra election result will be announced on November 23.

Thane: Women wait in a queue to cast votes at a polling station during the Maharashtra Assembly elections, in Thane, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (PTI Photo) (PTI11_20_2024_000186B)(PTI)

In Maharashtra, the primary contest is between the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The opposition MVA includes the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar.

Maharashtra election 2024

All 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra voted in a single phase on November 20. Polling took place between 7 am and 6 pm. On election day, a dry day was observed in Mumbai and other cities across the state.

Exit polls 2024

Exit polls projections for the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly polls showed a neck-and-neck fight between the ruling Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar), and the opposing Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP(Sharad Pawar) and Congress.

However, pollsters gave an edge to the Mahayuti over the MVA in the exit polls by a slim majority.

Notably, the exit polls are released only after voting across the state is concluded, as per the Election Commission's guidelines. This guarantees that voters are not swayed by predictions from exit polls prior to casting their ballots. Early release of these surveys could influence unsure voters or lead to a bandwagon effect, which might unfairly affect the election's outcome.

When will the Maharashtra election results be announced?

The vote counting will take place on Saturday, November 23.

Intense election campaign

The ruling Mahayuti alliance, consists of the BJP, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Shiv Sena. The alliance is counting on its its schemes like ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin’ for women to help it hold onto power.

"Batenge toh katenge" and "Ek hai toh safe hai" are two of the BJP's slogans that have led the opposition parties to accuse the Mahayuti of dividing votes along religious lines.

By emphasising topics like social justice, caste-based censuses, and constitutional protection, the MVA coalition refuted the rhetoric of the ruling combine.

With the elections approaching, the BJP on Monday began a new series of advertisements criticising the opposition MVA and calling for voters to “Say No to Congress.” The advertising campaign brought attention to a number of historical events, such as the lynching of sadhus in Palghar and the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes.

Polling Codes and Violations

According to poll authorities, the EC has addressed 563 out of 615 complaints submitted via the C-Vigil app in the city of Mumbai and 564 out of 623 complaints submitted in the suburban area. Poll code breaches have been reported in eight incidents in Mumbai city and eight cases in the outlying districts. According to an official, 30 further offences, both cognisable and non-cognisable, have been filed.

In the city, poll squads confiscated 2,800 litres of alcohol worth ₹12.89 lakh, while in the suburban area, they confiscated 39,385 litres of alcohol worth ₹1.10 crore. According to the official, drugs valued at ₹44.79 crore were found in the suburban district and ₹4.17 crore in the city.