Maharashtra, India – As the dust settles on an enthusiastic day of voting across the state, including major urban centers like Mumbai and Pune, the exit polls for the 2024 Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections are revealing intriguing insights into voter sentiment. Early trends suggest that the grand coalition, or Mahayuti, may hold onto power, while a fierce battle looms in Mumbai, the state's vibrant capital. Since the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections, all political parties within Maharashtra have been on high alert, gearing up for this pivotal assembly election. The ruling factions, particularly the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have been preparing to defend their positions while the opposition has been strategizing to capitalize on any perceived weaknesses.
According to the latest exit polls, the Grand Alliance appears to have an edge, but it is not without contention. Polls indicate that the Mahayuti coalition is projected to secure between 105 and 157 seats, depending on the survey, while the opposition alliance, referred to as Mavia, is forecasted to win between 68 and 155 seats. The "Others" category, which includes smaller parties, is expected to garner between 8 and 23 seats. In Mumbai, the stakes are particularly high, with the JVC exit poll forecasting a neck-and-neck competition: Mahayuti is predicted to secure 17 to 19 seats, while Mavia is anticipated to win 16 to 18 seats. This reflects the intensity of the political landscape in the city, where the electorate's choice will significantly influence the overall outcome.
However, the day was not without its incidents. In Mohadi, Bhandara district, two factions of the NCP clashed at a polling booth, leading to a brief altercation among party workers. The Ajit Pawar faction was accused of bringing voters to the polls via Tata Sumos, which was opposed by supporters of the Sharad Pawar faction. Fortunately, local police intervened promptly, resolving the situation without further escalation. As the exit poll results roll in, the anticipation builds for the official election outcomes. The electorate's decisions today will determine the political landscape of Maharashtra for the next five years, making this election not just a contest for power, but a referendum on the state's direction moving forward. With the results expected soon, all eyes remain on the vote count that will potentially reshape Maharashtra's political narrative.