Mumbai | Amruta Fadnavis, the banker and singer wife of BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, on Saturday said that the Mahayuti victory in Maharashtra assembly elections was beyond expectations.

“A victory till a certain level was expected, but this is a landslide victory. I am very happy,” she told reporters in Mumbai.

Asked if she would like to see her husband back as the chief minister, Amruta said, “The party will decide, the Mahayuti will decide. The leader which everyone chooses will be good for Maharashtra.” “Everyone put up their best. Now the next decision (on who will be CM) is up to our top leaders and the (BJP) parliamentary board,” she said.

Asked about Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut's claim that the BJP-led Mahayuti's massive victory is illegal, Amruta said, “Today is a good day, why bring bad things into it.” Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, last week hit out at Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar for comments critical of his wife.

He also declared the trolls ought to be ashamed of their actions and "drown in water" for derogatory comments against his wife.

Kanhaiya Kumar had sparked controversy after remarks targeting Amruta Fadnavis and dismissing the Deputy Chief Minister's wife for making reels on Instagram.

"It can't be that the responsibility of saving religion is ours, while the Deputy Chief Minister's wife is making reels on Instagram. Everyone must save the religion together," he had said in Nagpur.

Mumbai | The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won 24 seats in the Maharashtra assembly elections so far and is leading in 106 others, while allies Shiv Sena and NCP bagged 15 and 14 seats respectively.

The prominent winning candidates from the BJP include sitting MLA Nitesh Rane, who retained the Kankavli assembly seat in Sindhudurg district by a margin of 58,007 votes, state assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar, who won the Colaba seat by 48,581, and Shivendraraje Bhonsle from Satara who retained the seat by a significant margin of 1,42,124 votes.

Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil retained the Shirdi seat by a difference of 70,282 votes.

From the Shiv Sena, Nilesh Rane, the elder son of BJP MP Narayan Rane, won by a margin of 8,176 votes. State ministers from the party, Uday Samant and Deepak Kesarkar won from Ratnagiri and Sawantwadi constituencies by a margin of 41,590 votes and 39,899 votes respectively.

The Shiv Sena has won 15 seats and is leading in 39 others.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar won 14 seats and is leading in 27 others. Deputy speaker of Maharashtra assembly Narhari Zirwal won the Dindori constituency in Nashik district by 44,403 votes. Aditi Tatkare won from Shrivardhan constituency in Raigad district by a margin of 82,798 votes.

Mumbai | Bureaucrat-turned-politician Siddharth Kharat on Saturday won his maiden assembly election from Mehkar in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region, defeating a candidate of the Shiv Sena, headed by CM Eknath Shinde.

Kharat, who defeated Sanjay Raymulkar by 5,219 votes, was a joint secretary in the state government, when he took voluntary retirement from the post in July this year and joined the Shiv Sena (UBT) ahead of the assembly elections.

Kharat's journey began in the remote village of Tadshivani, located in the Sindkhedaraja taluka of Buldhana district, and has taken him all the way to Mantralaya, the power house of Maharashtra.

Kharat has held various positions throughout his career, from a Section Officer in Mantralaya to Joint Secretary. He also served as Personal Assistant and Private Secretary to multiple ministers at both the state and Centre.

He moved out of the government after almost three decades of service and joined the Shiv Sena (UBT) in presence of Uddhav Thackeray.

“My connect with the masses, and voters who knew my sincerity helped me in my victory,” Kharat said. His wife Suvarna is a joint secretary in the state government. PTI

VT

Mumbai | In a jolt to the Congress, senior party leaders Prithviraj Chavan and Balasaheb Thorat were staring at defeat in the Karad (south) and Sangamner assembly constituencies in Maharashtra as counting entered the final stages.

Former chief minister Chavan (78) was trailing by 24,807 votes against BJP's Atul Bhosale as the 15th round of counting ended with two more rounds to go.

Thorat was trailing behind Shiv Sena's Amol Khatal by a margin of 13,837 votes at the end of the 19th round with two more rounds to go.

In Bhor constituency, sitting Congress MLA Sangram Thopate is trailing behind NCP candidate Shankar Mandekar.

Mandekar has taken a lead of 19,683 votes against Thopate.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray established a lead of 8,408 votes at the end of the 16th round. There was one more round to go.

In Mahim, Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Mahesh Sawant was leading by 1068 votes at the end of the 16th round, with two more rounds to go, while MNS leader Amit Thackeray, son of party chief Raj Thackeray, was trailing in the third place.

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | Amid a sweep by the Mahayuti in the Maharashtra assembly polls, the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen was managing to hold its own in Chhatrapati Sambhajninagar, Marathwada's largest district.

Its former Lok Sabha MP Imtiaz Jaleel was in a close contest in Aurangabad East seat against BJP leader and state minister Atul Save in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, while in Aurangabad Central, Naseruddin Siddiqui was leading against Shiv Sena's Pradip Jaiswal.

Both Save and Jaleel have led alternatively as the rounds of vote counting progressed through the morning.

As per data made available on the Election Commission's website, 20 rounds of counting are over in Aurangabad East with four more rounds to go. In Aurangabad Central, just seven of 23 rounds remain.

While the district's name was changed to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar some months ago, the names of the assembly and Lok Sabha seats continue to have Aurangabad.

Mumbai | Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday denied any row over the CM's post and asserted that leaders of Mahayuti will take a call even as counting of votes showed the saffron party-led coalition is heading for a landslide victory.

Addressing reporters, Fadnavis said the results of the Maharashtra assembly polls show that the state supports PM Narendra Modi and also thanked women voters.

"Opposition's efforts of propagating a fake narrative, and polarisation of voters based on religion foiled by masses," said Fadnavis.

The Deputy CM said he succeeded in breaking the 'chakravyuh' of opposition due to the support of voters, the BJP team and party leaders.

With some leaders in BJP demanding that Fadnavis don the mantle of the next CM, the BJP stalwart said there was no row over the CM's post in Mahayuti- comprising BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP.

"Leaders of Mahayuti parties will decide (on next CM)," Fadnavis told reporters in Mumbai.

He said the people of Maharashtra have shown that the party headed by Eknath Shinde is the real Shiv Sena of Balasaheb Thackeray.

As per the poll trends, the BJP has 10 constituencies and leading in 120.

Baramati | In the high-profile Baramati constituency, Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP leader Ajit Pawar is heading towards a big win over his nephew and NCP (SP) challenger Yugendra Pawar, whose candidature was endorsed in a big way by Sharad Pawar.

Ajit Pawar, seeking the eighth term from Baramati, polled 1,29,993 votes as per the latest update by the Election Commission, taking a lead by 72,809 votes, over debutant Yugendra who secured 57,184 votes after 14 rounds.

Ajit Pawar's election incharge Kiran Gujar claimed the NCP chief has expanded his lead by 88,782 votes after the 18th round of counting out of 20 rounds.

The elections to 288 constituencies in Maharashtra were held on November 20 and counting is underway on Saturday.

As per the latest trends, Ajit Pawar-led NCP is heading for an impressive performance in Maharashtra with the party leading in 36 seats and winning four. In contrast, Sharad Pawar-led NCP leads on 11 seats and won 1.

Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member, thanked the people of Baramati, hoping Ajit's margin will surge past 1 lakh.

"I am thankful to the people of Baramati for once again showing their trust in Ajit Pawar and rallying behind him. They showed that Baramati is his family," said Sunetra Pawar.

Ajit Pawar's victory is an acknowledgement of the development he has done in Baramati, she added.

Notably, Ajit Pawar had secured the highest victory margin of 1,65,265 in the Baramati constituency in 2019 polls.

In another key contest in the Pune district, NCP candidate and ruling MLA Dilip Walse Patil surged ahead of NCP (SP) candidate Devdatta Nikam by 2,542 votes after the 16th round of counting in the Ambegaon constituency.

Walse Patil polled 87,595 votes and Nikam 85,053.

NCP (SP) nominee Harshavardhan Patil, who left BJP ahead of elections, is trailing against his NCP challenger and ruling MLA Dattatray Bharne in Indapur.

Bharne polled 60,925 votes and Patil 45,266 votes, as per the Election Commission update.

Mumbai | The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is on course to retain power in Maharashtra, and winning nine seats so far and was leading in 217 of the 288 assembly seats, as per the latest figures of the counting process in the November 20 elections.

After the certainty of the poll outcome, the focus has now shifted to BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, the architect of his party's stunning victory. Political circles are abuzz with reports that the state's second Brahmin to become the CM will don the post for the third time.

As per the latest figures from the Election Commission, the BJP has so far won nine seats and is leading in 125, the Shiv Sena has won three and is ahead in 53 seats, while the NCP has won two and is leading in 37 seats.

In the MVA, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidates were leading in 11 seats, Congress in 20 and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) in 19 seats.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has suffered a crushing defeat, with its candidates leading in just 50 seats, a far cry from the boasts – till this morning – by many of its senior leaders that the combine will trounce the Mahayuti.

The winners include BJP's Kalidas Kolambkar who defeated Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Shraddha Jadhav by 24,973 in Wadala constituency after 16 rounds to become a legislator for the ninth time in a row.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were leading in their respective assembly constituencies.

Senior Congress leaders Nana Patole, Prithviraj Chavan and Balasaheb Thorat were trailing in their constituencies.

Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah called Fadnavis and congratulated him on the party's impressive performance in the Maharashtra assembly elections.

Sources close to Fadnavis told PTI that Shah called and congratulated him for the party's strong performance in the elections.

Sarita Fadnavis, mother of Devendra Fadnavis, also expressed happiness over Mahayuti's performance.

"I never believed in any rumours and knew that he (Devendra) would do good. The party's success can be attributed to the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme and Devedra's efforts and popularity...He is very intelligent, smart and courageous and that has brought him this success," she said.

On the Ladki Bahin Yojana, she said, "I don't have a daughter, but through this scheme, I now have so many daughters and their good wishes." BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde told reporters, "Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar worked together and gained people's trust. Sharad Pawar broke the natural alliance of Shiv Sena and BJP. Balasaheb Thackeray's voters were angry due to it." "Every day, someone from Bhandup used to pollute the state's politics," he said, without naming Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, who is a resident of that area.

The counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections began at 8 am Saturday, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

The final turnout in the polls, held on November 20, was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019.

In the Mahayuti, the BJP contested 149 seats, Shiv Sena 81, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.

In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates.

Following is the party position in the outgoing assembly: BJP 105, Shiv Sena 41, NCP 40, Congress 45, Shiv Sena (UBT) 15, NCP (SP) 12, BVA 3, Samajwadi Party 2, AIMIM 2, Prahar Janshakti Party 2, MNS 1, CPM 1, PWP 1, Swabhimani Paksh 1, Rashtriya Samaj Paksh 1, Jan Surajya Shakti 1, Krantikari Shetkari Paksh 1 and Independents 13. PTI ND MR PR KK NP

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | NCP leader Dhananjay Munde on Saturday said his performance from Parli assembly seat was the "power" of the Munde family coming together.

The agriculture minister in the outgoing cabinet under Shinde was leading by 88,659 votes over NCP (SP) candidate Rajesaheb Deshmukh in Parli as per data made available on the EC website at 2:30pm.

The area was the stronghold of BJP stalwart late Gopinath Munde before Dhananjay Munde walked out and joined the undivided NCP. He defeated Gopinath Munde's daughter Pankaja Munde in the 2019 assembly polls.

However, with Dhananjay Munde opting to side with Ajit Pawar when the latter joined the Eknath Shinde government in July last year, the Munde household united under the Mahayuti banner, which comprises the NCP, the BJP as well as Shiv Sena.

"My win is the power of the Munde family coming together. Pankaja Munde took great efforts to get votes for me. I got such a huge lead as all communities have come together," he told reporters.

"The opposition tried to conspire against me and also divide people on the basis of caste. Even a national leader (referring to Sharad Pawar) addressed a rally here (seeking his defeat). The opposition took every effort to polarise people but it did not work," Dhananjay Munde said.

Mumbai | Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah on Saturday called Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and congratulated him on the party's impressive performance in the Maharashtra assembly elections.

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is on course to retain power in Maharashtra, and was leading in 222 of the 288 assembly seats, as per the latest figures by the Election Commission almost mid-way through the counting process in the November 20 elections. The BJP has so far won three seats and was leading in 124 others.

Sources close to Fadnavis confirmed that Shah called and congratulated him for the party's strong performance in the November 20 elections.

Meanwhile, Sarita Fadnavis, mother of Devendra Fadnavis, expressed happiness over Mahayuti's performance.

"I never believed in any rumours and knew that he (Devendra) would do good. The party's success can be attributed to the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme and Devedra's efforts and popularity...He is very intelligent, smart and courageous and that has brought him this success," she said.

On the Ladki Bahin Yojana, she said, "I don't have a daughter, but through this scheme, I now have so many daughters and their good wishes." Talking to reporters, BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde said, "Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar worked together and gained people's trust. Sharad Pawar broke the natural alliance of Shiv Sena and BJP. Balasaheb Thackeray's voters were angry due to it." "Every day, someone from Bhandup used to pollute the state's politics," he said, apparently referring to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut.

Mumbai | The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena of Raj Thackeray and Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi failed to make an impact in the state assembly polls as trends showed the ruling Mahayuti cruising to a landslide victory.

Parties like the Samajwadi Party and All India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen were in a slightly better position.

While the MNS had fielded 125 candidates, the VBA had 200 candidates in the fray.

The bad news for the MNS was compounded with Amit Thackeray, son of the party chief, trailing at third place in Mahim seat in Mumbai.

The Raju Shetti-led Swabhimani Paksha, which had fielded 19 candidates, also failed to make any impact. It is known to have influence among farmers, especially in western Maharashtra.

Incidentally, on the eve of counting of votes, Ambedkar had claimed his party would get a sizable number of seats and would get to choose which side can form the government.

As per trends made available on the EC website, the Samajwadi Party, Jan Surajya Shakti and CPM were leading in two seats each while the AIMIM, Rashtriya Yuva Swabhiman Party, Peasants and Workers Party and Rajashri Shahu Vikas Aghadi were leading on one seat each.

A total of 158 parties contested the November 20 assembly polls.

The main fight is between the Mahayuti comprising BJP, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, and the Maha Vikas Aghadi consisting of the Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT).

Nagpur | Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari congratulated the Mahayuti for the stellar performance in the Maharashtra assembly polls and said the ruling alliance prioritised development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As per trends available on the Election Commission data, the Mahayuti was leading in more than 210 of the 288 assembly seats, with BJP itself having the upper hand on more than 120 seats. The half way mark is 144.

"Heartfelt congratulations to the people of Maharashtra for the historic victory of the BJP-Mahayuti alliance in the Assembly elections! Under the leadership of PM Narendramodi Ji, the BJP-Mahayuti has consistently prioritised development and remains committed to Maharashtra's holistic progress and the aspirations of its people," Gadkari said in a post on X.

"I firmly believe that the double-engine government, inspired by PM Modi Ji's vision, will accelerate the state's growth to greater heights. I extend my sincere congratulations to PM Narendra Modi Ji, Party President JPNadda Ji, CM Eknath Shinde ji, Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis Ji and AjitPawar Ji, and BJP leaders and Mahayuti Karyakartas for this outstanding achievement," he added.

The senior BJP leader expressed gratitude to voluntary organisations that work tirelessly during polls to raise voter awareness.

The voter turnout of 66.05 per cent this time in the state was the highest since 1995.

Polls were held on November 20, while counting of votes began at 8m during the day.

Mumbai | With the Mahayuti poised for a landslide victory the Maharashtra elections, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said the coalition does not have a definitive formula that the party bagging the most seats will get the chief minister's post.

He said the poll trends were in favour of the Mahayuti because of his flagship initiative, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.

Early trends have indicated that the Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, will retain the power in Maharashtra.

Speaking to reporters, Shinde said, "I thank all my ladki bahins (dear sisters) in the state and the brothers who voted in large numbers for us. The voting trend is an endorsement of our work." "Every section of society voted for us because of our development efforts. The public has noticed our work and responded through their ballots," he said, adding that this outcome has increased their responsibility.

Shinde emphasised that his government always had a pro-people approach, which is why it is on its way to record a landslide victory, and he outlined the administration's commitment to development projects and welfare schemes.

A key factor in the election's outcome was the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, which provides Rs 1,500 to eligible women.

Shinde referred to this initiative as a "major game changer" for the state elections.

He further said the Mahayuti did not have a definitive formula that the party winning the most seats will get the chief minister post.

"At this time, no definitive formula has been established. Senior leaders from the three parties, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP's national president J P Nadda, will discuss and decide the matter," he said.

Earlier in the day, BJP legislator Pravin Darekar demanded that Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis be appointed the next chief minister.

In the alliance, the party that secures the highest number of seats will be entitled to get the chief minister's post, he asserted.

The chief minister thanked PM Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah for their support and congratulated party workers from the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the NCP for their efforts.

Shinde expressed uncertainty about whether an official leader of the opposition would emerge.

"The opposition parties wasted time abusing us while we continued working," he said, reiterating that the people had responded positively to his administration.

Mumbai | Parag Shah of the BJP retained his Ghatkopar East assembly constituency, defeating rival NCP (SP) nominee by 34,999 votes.

Shah, the richest candidate in the Maharashtra polls, bagged 85,388 votes, while Rakhee Jadhav of the Sharad Pawar-led party polled 50,389 votes.

This is Shah's second consecutive victory.

Nagpur | Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday hailed the performance of the ruling Mahayuti in the assembly polls and credited it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the latter's 'ek hai toh safe hai' slogan.

Fadnavis is leading from Nagpur South West assembly seat by a margin of 19,437 seats as per data made available on the Election Commission website at 1pm.

In a post on X , he said, "Ek Hain toh Safe hain' 'Modi hain toh Mumkin hain'.

The slogan was a staple of all speeches of Modi during the campaign.

The Mahayuti, which comprises the BJP, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, is leading on more than 210 of the 288 assembly seats.

Polls were held on Wednesday, while counting of votes began since 8am in the morning.

Mumbai | BJP's Kalidas Kolambkar retained his Wadala assembly constituency in Mumbai, defeating rival Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Shraddha Jadhav by 24,973 votes.

Kolambkar has won for the ninth consecutive time, becoming one of the senior-most MLAs in the state.

The BJP leader polled 66,800 votes, while Jadhav, a former Mumbai mayor, got 41,827 votes.

The votes were counted in 16 rounds.

BJP was leading in 125 assembly constituencies, bettering its 2014 tally of 122 seats. It had bagged 105 seats in 2019.

Mumbai | Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar have established comfortable leads in their respective assembly constituencies in the November 20 state elections.

Some senior Congress leaders, including former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and legislature party leader Balasaheb Thorat are trailing behind their nearest rivals as per the updated figures provided by the Election Commission.

CM Shinde established a comfortable lead of 50, 559 votes over his nearest rival Kedar Dighe of Shiv Sena (UBT) in Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency in Thane district as counting progressed in the 11th round.

Deputy CM Fadnavis is ahead of his rival Prafulla Gudadhe of the Congress with a margin of 20,919 votes in Nagpur South West at the end of 13th round.

In the high-profile family battle of Baramati in Pune district, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has left behind his nephew Yugendra Pawar, fielded by Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), by a margin of 49,460 votes at the end of 10th round.

In Worli, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has left Shiv Sena's Rajya Sabha member Milind Deora behind by a margin of 1,715 votes at the end of the ninth round.

Balasaheb Thorat, a former minister, was trailing by a margin of 5,395 votes at the end of 11th round, while Prithviraj Chavan was trailing in Karad South constituency by 10,837 votes at the end 7th round.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole has established a lead over BJP's Avinash Brahamankar by a very thin margin of 476 votes at the end of 10th round of counting.

BJP candidate Sreejaya Chavan, daughter of former chief minister Ashok Chavan, was leading in Bhokar by 12,411 votes over Congress candidate Tirupati Kadam Kondhekar.

Ajit Pawar-led NCP's Zeeshan Siddique was trailing in Vandre East constituency in Mumbai by 5,859 votes at the end of 10th round. Varun Sardesai of the Shiv Sena (UBT) was leading there.

Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar was leading by 25,580 votes at the end of 8th round, leaving Congress nominee Arif Zakaria behind.

Mumbai | The mandate of the people of Maharashtra has shown who is carrying forward the ideals of late Bal Thackeray, said Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's son Shrikant Shinde as early trends of the assembly polls showed the Mahayuti winning emphatically.

The Bal Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena split in June 2022 after Eknath Shinde rebelled against then CM Uddhav Thackeray and brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

Since then, the two factions have been engaged in an acrimonious battle for supremacy as well as the legacy of Bal Thackeray, a Hindutva icon and one of the state's most charismatic leaders.

As at 12:45pm, data made available on the EC website showed the BJP leading on 125 seats, the Shiv Sena on 55 and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP on 38, all part of the ruling Mahayuti.

Speaking to reporters, Shrikant Shinde said the credit for the mandate goes to CM Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP and Ajit Pawar.

Welfare schemes implemented by the Mahayuti government has led to a spectacular victory, along with the CM's accessibility and the way his official residence Varsha was open to citizens at all times of the day, the Kalyan Lok Sabha MP said.

"The Ladki Bahin Yojana did the magic. Sisters stood strongly behind their brothers. People have shown who is taking Balasaheb's ideals forward," Shinde said.

The rival Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena was leading in just 19 seats.

Mumbai | The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is on course to retain power in Maharashtra, and was leading in 217 of the 288 assembly seats, as per the latest figures by the Election Commission almost mid-way through the counting process in the November 20 elections.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi appeared stumbling, with its candidates leading in just 50 seats, a far cry from the boasts – till this morning – by many of its leaders that the combine will trounce the Mahayuti.

In the first and the only result declared so far by the Election Commission, BJP's Kalidas Kolambkar from Wadala defeated Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Shraddha Jadhav by 24,973 after 16 rounds to become a legislator for the ninth time in a row.

As per ECI figures, in the Mahayuti, BJP candidates were leading in 123 seats and won the Wadala seat in Mumbai, Shiv Sena in 55 and NCP in 38 seats.

In the MVA, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidates were leading in 13 seats, and Congress and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) in 19 seats each.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were leading in their respective assembly constituencies.

The counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections began at 8 am Saturday, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

The final turnout in the polls, held on November 20, was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019.

In the Mahayuti, the BJP contested 149 seats, Shiv Sena 81, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.

In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates.

Following is the party position in the outgoing assembly: BJP 105, Shiv Sena 41, NCP 40, Congress 45, Shiv Sena (UBT) 15, NCP (SP) 12, BVA 3, Samajwadi Party 2, AIMIM 2, Prahar Janshakti Party 2, MNS 1, CPM 1, PWP 1, Swabhimani Paksh 1, Rashtriya Samaj Paksh 1, Jan Surajya Shakti 1, Krantikari Shetkari Paksh 1 and Independents 13.

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | BJP's Santukrao Hambarde is leading by 12,283 votes over his Congress rival Ravindra Chavan as per the latest counting figures shared by the Election Commission.

Hambarde is locked in a straight fight against the Congress candidate, who polled 1,69,585 votes against his 1,81,868.

The bypoll to the Nanded Lok Sabha seat was necessitated due to the death of sitting Congress MP Vasant Chavan on August 26. Ravindra Chavan is his son.

Pratap Patil Chikhalikar, who won the 2019 Lok Sabha poll for the Nanded seat as a BJP candidate, had defeated Ashok Chavan then with the Congress. Chikhalikar lost the 2024 Lok Sabha poll from Nanded to Vasant Chavan by more than 59,000 votes.

While veteran Congress leader and former chief minister Ashok Chavan joined the BJP in February this year, Chikhalikar is now with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and is contesting the assembly poll from Loha in Nanded, which he has represented twice as an MLA.

Mumbai | Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said the poll trends were in favour of the Mahayuti because of his flagship initiative, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.

He said the people of the state have responded to the welfare schemes with their votes.

The early trends have indicated that the Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, will retain the power in Maharashtra.

Speaking to reporters, Shinde said, "I thank all my ladki bahins (dear sisters) in the state and the brothers who voted in large numbers for us. The voting trend is an endorsement of our work." "Every section of society voted for us because of our development efforts. The public has noticed our work and responded through their ballots," he said, adding that this outcome has increased their responsibility.

Shinde clarified that the Mahayuti does not have a definitive formula that the party winning the most seats will get the chief minister post.

"At this time, no definitive formula has been established. Senior leaders from the three parties, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP's national president J P Nadda, will discuss and decide the matter," he said.

Earlier in the day, BJP legislator Pravin Darekar demanded that Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis be appointed the next chief minister.

In the alliance, the party that secures the highest number of seats will be entitled to get the chief minister's post, he asserted.

Mumbai | Devendra Fadnavis, the political stalwart who rose from humble beginnings to become a key figure in Maharashtra politics, is on course to regain chief minister's post -- a position he has held twice before.

The 54-year-old leader, whose career has been marked by a blend of resilience and strategic manoeuvring, is positioned to lead the state for the third time following a decisive showing of the BJP in the assembly polls.

Fadnavis' political journey has been nothing short of remarkable. From serving as an obscure corporator to becoming the youngest mayor of Nagpur, he has strengthened his status as a prominent leader within his party. Notably, he is only the second Brahmin to serve as Chief Minister of Maharashtra, following the Shiv Sena's Manohar Joshi.

His ascent began in earnest ahead of the 2014 assembly elections, where he garnered significant support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leader Amit Shah. Modi famously referred to him as "Nagpur's gift to the country" during a campaign rally, underscoring the confidence placed in Fadnavis.

Though Modi had launched a campaign blitzkrieg in the 2014 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly polls, a portion of the credit also went to Fadnavis, then state BJP president, for the party's unprecedented victories in the elections.

Son of Jan Sangh and later BJP leader late Gangadhar Fadnavis, whom his fellow Nagpur politician and former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari calls his "political guru", Devendra cut his teeth in politics at a young age when he joined Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the students wing of RSS, in 1989.

At 22, he became a corporator in the Nagpur civic body and its youngest Mayor in 1997 at the age of 27.

Fadnavis contested his first assembly election in 1999 and won. There was no looking back for him as he won three subsequent assembly elections. He was poised to retain his Nagpur South West seat comfortably on Saturday.

Unlike many leaders across the political spectrum in Maharashtra, Fadnavis has remained untainted by accusations of corruption.

Among the most articulate Maharashtra politicians, Fadnavis is also credited with pushing the previous Congress-NCP government into a corner over the alleged irrigation scam.

Fadnavis experienced a setback in the aftermath of the 2019 assembly elections as the then united Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray pulled out of the pre-poll alliance over sharing of CM's post, shattering the BJP leader's much-hyped “mee punha yein (I will come back again) slogan.

Fadnavis was sworn in as the chief minister for the second time on November 23, 2019 and Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the deputy chief minister. However, before a Supreme Court-ordered no confidence motion could take place, Fadnavis quit on November 26, three days after taking oath as the CM.

Uddhav Thackeray, propped up by Sharad Pawar-led NCP, later became the CM, but quit after senior Sena leader Eknath Shinde split the party and later became the CM.

After Thackeray demitted office following the large-scale desertions in the Sena, many political observers thought that Fadnavis, who they knew was behind the episode, would become the CM. However, the BJP leadership had other plans and a reluctant Fadnavis was asked to occupy the deputy CM's post.

His tenure in the last two-and-a-half years as Deputy Chief Minister has seen a marked resurgence, and Saturday's results come as the much-awaited cherry on the cake.

Though he hails from a politically active family, his father and aunt both served in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Fadnavis has crafted his own distinct political identity.

Fadnavis' first tenure as the CM was characterised by a combination of good governance and effective political manoeuvring. He earned praise for his push to expedite infrastructure projects, gaining favour particularly among urban voters.

However, his term was not without challenges. The state suffered significant crop losses due to erratic weather, and his initial rejection of loan waiver for affected farmers sparked widespread protests.

Another major issue during his tenure was the Maratha community's demand for reservations. Though he passed legislation to meet these demands, the subsequent Supreme Court ruling that overturned the law left many in the Maratha community dissatisfied, blaming Fadnavis for the failure.

The 2019 assembly elections marked a dramatic shift in Fadnavis' political trajectory. The Shiv Sena's refusal to join the government unless it shared the Chief Minister's post led Fadnavis to seek an alternative alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar.

This government, however, was short-lived, collapsing after just 72 hours. Fadnavis then assumed the role of Leader of the Opposition.

In June 2022, following a rebellion within the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, Fadnavis was instructed by the BJP leadership to return to the government as Deputy CM under Shinde.

Although initially reluctant, Fadnavis accepted the role, signalling his loyalty to the party leadership.

Even after a significant loss in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he played a pivotal role in shaping the seat-sharing arrangement between the BJP and Shinde's faction.

Fadnavis' career has, thus far, been defined by resilience, adaptability and strategic insight. His ability to adapt and make tactical decisions could prove crucial for him and his party in the coming days.

Baramati | Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has gained a comfortable lead of 34,118 votes over his nephew and NCP (SP) candidate Yugendra Pawar in the early rounds of counting in the Baramati assembly constituency.

After round seven of counting, the NCP chief, seeking an eighth term from Baramati, has polled 65,211 votes against his debutante nephew's 31,096.

Baramati will witness 20 rounds of counting.

All eyes are on Baramati, a stronghold of NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, as the high-profile contest is within the family.

The Lok Sabha polls earlier this year saw NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule defeat Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra by more than 1.5 lakh votes.

In another key contest in Pune district, NCP candidate and ruling MLA Dilip Walse Patil is ahead of NCP (SP) candidate Devdatta Nikam by 4,384 votes by the 10th round of counting in Ambegaon.

Walse Patil has polled 53,673 votes against Nikam's 49,289.

There will be 19 rounds of counting in Ambegaon.

Mumbai | BJP legislator Pravin Darekar on Saturday demanded that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis be appointed as the next chief minister of the state with early trends in the counting of votes for the assembly elections suggesting a win for the Mahayuti combine.

In the alliance, the party that secures the highest number of seats will be entitled to get the chief minister's post, he asserted.

The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance appeared set to retain power in the state, and was leading in 218 of the 288 assembly seats, as per the latest figures in the counting of votes by the Election Commission. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was stumbling, with its candidates leading in just 50 seats.

As per ECI figures, in the Mahayuti, BJP candidates were leading in 128 seats, Shiv Sena in 55 and NCP in 35 seats.

Talking to reporters, BJP MLC Darekar said, "Based on the current trends, I believe that the BJP will be the single largest party and Devendra Fadnavis should become the chief minister. The election was contested under his leadership, and he called for a 'dharma yuddha' in these assembly polls." "I cannot express my gratitude to people," he said.

When asked about the current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, whose party Shiv Sena is an ally of the BJP, Darekar said, "As part of the alliance, the party that secures the most seats will be entitled to the post of Chief Minister."

Mumbai | BJP's Santukrao Hambarde is leading by 839 votes over his Congress rival Ravindra Chavan in the initial rounds of counting for the bypoll to the Nanded Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra.

Hambarde is locked in a straight fight against the Congress candidate, who polled 86,771 votes against his 87,610.

The bypoll to the Nanded Lok Sabha seat was necessitated due to the death of sitting Congress MP Vasant Chavan on August 26. Ravindra Chavan is his son.

Pratap Patil Chikhalikar, who won the 2019 Lok Sabha poll for the Nanded seat as a BJP candidate, had defeated Ashok Chavan then with the Congress. Chikhalikar lost the 2024 Lok Sabha poll from Nanded to Vasant Chavan by more than 59,000 votes.

While Ashok Chavan joined the BJP in February this year, Chikhalikar is now with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and is contesting the assembly poll from Loha in Nanded, which he has represented twice as an MLA.

Mumbai | Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday alleged that there was a "big conspiracy" and something was "fishy" in the Maharashtra assembly poll results with trends suggesting a landslide victory for the Mahayuti combine.

Talking to reporters, he said the poll results do not reflect people's mandate as the situation was very different on the ground and there was palpable anger against the government.

"I see a big conspiracy in this...This is not a mandate of Marathi 'manoos' and farmers," he said.

"We do not accept this as people's mandate. Something is fishy in the election results," Raut added.

There was no doubt that money was used in the polls, he alleged.

"How can all MLAs of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde win? How can Ajit Pawar, whose betrayal angered Maharashtra, win?" the Rajya Sabha MP asked.

The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance appeared set to retain power in the state, and was leading in 204 of the 288 assembly seats, as per the latest figures by the Election Commission.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was stumbling, with its candidates leading in just 47 seats, as per the early trends.

In the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.

In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates.

Mumbai | The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance appeared set to retain power in Maharashtra, and was leading in 218 of the 288 assembly seats, as per figures of early trends in the counting the latest figures by the Election Commission.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi was stumbling, with its candidates leading in just 50 seats, as per the early trends.

Indicating a landslide victory for the ruling alliance, TV channels said the Mahayuti was ahead in 222 seats and MVA in 56 constituencies, as counting of votes commenced Saturday morning in the November 20 elections.

As per ECI figures, in the Mahayuti, BJP candidates were leading in 128 seats, Shiv Sena in 55 and NCP in 35 seats.

In the MVA, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidates were leading in 13 seats, Congress in 20 and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) in 17 seats.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were leading in their respective assembly constituencies in the first round of the counting of votes.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and sitting MLA Aaditya Thackeray was leading in Worli assembly seat in Mumbai by 495 votes, the poll officials said.

Congress Legislature Party leader and former minister Balasaheb Thorat was trailing in Sangamner assembly seat by 1,831 votes.

The counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections began at 8 am Saturday, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

The final turnout in the polls, held on November 20, was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019.

In the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.

In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates.

Following is the party position in the outgoing assembly: BJP 105, Shiv Sena 41, NCP 40, Congress 45, Shiv Sena (UBT) 15, NCP (SP) 12, BVA 3, Samajwadi Party 2, AIMIM 2, Prahar Janshakti Party 2, MNS 1, CPM 1, PWP 1, Swabhimani Paksh 1, Rashtriya Samaj Paksh 1, Jan Surajya Shakti 1, Krantikari Shetkari Paksh 1 and Independents 13.

New Delhi | The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance looked set for a runaway victory in Maharashtra, scoring an emphatic win over a tottering MVA, while the opposition INDIA bloc was poised to bag Jharkhand on Saturday, according to trends on the Election Commission website.

As votes were counted for the assembly polls held earlier this month, India's ruling and opposition alliances could bag one state each in the crucial electoral battle with voters in both going for continuity rather than change.

While the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP partnership banded under Mahayuti was leading in 218 of the 288 seats in the powerhouse state of Maharashtra indicating a huge wave in favour of the ruling alliance, the Maha Vikhas Aghadi (MVA) partnership of the Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) was ahead in just 50.

In the 81-seat Jharkhand assembly, the BJP was ahead in 26 seats, way behind the opposition alliance with JMM leading in 30 seats, the Congress in 13, the RJD in five and the CPI-ML in one.

“We will form government with a two-third majority in Jharkhand,” Congress leader Rajesh Thakur told PTI Videos as Hemant Soren looked set to return as chief minister.

"NDA will win Maharashtra and Jharkhand and Bihar bypolls. We will win because INDIA bloc wants to spread communalism in the country," Union minister Giriraj Singh told reporters as the BJP walked towards a triumphant comeback in Maharashtra.

The results come as a fillip for the BJP, which won an unprecedented hat-trick in Haryana last month, and help the party overcome some of its reverses in the general elections where it bagged just 240 seats.

Voters in the politically significant western state of Maharashtra, which sends 48 MPs to the Lok Sabha and gave the MVA a decisive 30 seats, clearly decided to go against the trend of that parliamentary victory just five months ago.

The BJP was ahead in 125 seats, close to the halfway mark of 144 on its own, while the Shiv Sena had leads in 56 and the NCP in 35. In contrast, the Congress was ahead in just 21, the Shiv Sena (UBT) in 17 and the NCP (SP) in 13.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were leading in their respective assembly constituencies. Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole was leading narrowly from Sakoli constituency and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and sitting MLA Aaditya Thackeray was leading in Worli assembly seat.

In what was a sobering lesson for the Congress, its legislature party leader and former minister Balasaheb Thorat was trailing in Sangamner as was senior Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in Karad South assembly seat.

In the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP in 59 constituencies. In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates.

In eastern Jharkhand, the Hemant Soren-led JMM was ahead in 30 seats, the Congress in 14, the RJD in five and the CPI-ML in one. The BJP was ahead in 24. Chief Minister Soren was leading in his Barhait assembly seat while NDA ally AJSU Party supremo Sudesh Mahto was trailing behind JMM's Amit Kumar in Silli The results will decide the electoral fate of 1,211 candidates, including Soren, his wife Kalpana from Gandey, former CM and BJP state president Babulal Marandi from Dhanwar and ex-CM Champai Soren from Seraikela.

Other prominent candidates include Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato of the JMM from Nala, Deepika Pandey Singh of Congress from Mahagama, Sita Soren (sister-in-law of CM Hemant Soren) from Jamtara, AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto from Silli.

Mumbai | The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance appeared set to retain power in Maharashtra, and was leading in 218 of the 288 assembly seats, as per figures of early trends in the counting the latest figures by the Election Commission.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi was stumbling, with its candidates leading in just 50 seats, as per the early trends.

Indicating a landslide victory for the ruling alliance, TV channels said the Mahayuti was ahead in 222 seats and MVA in 56 constituencies, as counting of votes commenced Saturday morning in the November 20 elections.

As per ECI figures, in the Mahayuti, BJP candidates were leading in 128 seats, Shiv Sena in 55 and NCP in 35 seats.

In the MVA, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidates were leading in 13 seats, Congress in 20 and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) in 17 seats.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were leading in their respective assembly constituencies in the first round of the counting of votes.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and sitting MLA Aaditya Thackeray was leading in Worli assembly seat in Mumbai by 495 votes, the poll officials said.

Congress Legislature Party leader and former minister Balasaheb Thorat was trailing in Sangamner assembly seat by 1,831 votes.

The counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections began at 8 am Saturday, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

The final turnout in the polls, held on November 20, was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019.

In the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.

In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates.

Following is the party position in the outgoing assembly: BJP 105, Shiv Sena 41, NCP 40, Congress 45, Shiv Sena (UBT) 15, NCP (SP) 12, BVA 3, Samajwadi Party 2, AIMIM 2, Prahar Janshakti Party 2, MNS 1, CPM 1, PWP 1, Swabhimani Paksh 1, Rashtriya Samaj Paksh 1, Jan Surajya Shakti 1, Krantikari Shetkari Paksh 1 and Independents 13.

Mumbai | The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance appeared set to retain power in Maharashtra, and was leading in 204 of the 288 assembly seats, as per the latest figures by the Election Commission.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi was stumbling, with its candidates leading in just 47 seats, as per the early trends.

Indicating a landslide victory for the ruling alliance, TV channels said the Mahayuti was ahead in 212 seats and MVA in 68 constituencies, as counting of votes commenced Saturday morning in the November 20 elections.

As per ECI figures, in the Mahayuti, BJP candidates were leading in 111 seats, Shiv Sena in 58 and NCP in 35 seats.

In the MVA, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidates were leading in 9 seats, Congress in 20 and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) in 18 seats.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were leading in their respective assembly constituencies in the first round of the counting of votes.

As per the figures provided by the Election Commission, Shinde was leading by 4,053 votes over his nearest rival from Kopri-Pachpakhadi assembly seat at the end of first round of counting.

Fadnavis was leading by 2,246 votes from Nagpur South-West and Pawar by 3,759 votes in Baramati seat, where he is locked in a tussle with his nephew Yugendra Pawar.

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole was leading by 344 votes from Sakoli constituency at the end of first round.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and sitting MLA Aaditya Thackeray was leading in Worli assembly seat in Mumbai by 495 votes, the poll officials said.

Congress Legislature Party leader and former minister Balasaheb Thorat was trailing in Sangamner assembly seat by 1,831 votes.

Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan was also trailing by 1,590 votes in Karad South assembly seat at the end of the first round of counting.

The counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections began at 8 am Saturday, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

The final turnout in the polls, held on November 20, was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019.

In the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.

In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates.

Mumbai | Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar are leading in their respective assembly constituencies in the first round of the counting of votes for the November 20 state elections.

As per the figures provided by the Election Commission officials, Shinde was leading by 4,053 votes over his nearest rival from Kopri-Pachpakhadi assembly seat at the end of first round of counting, while Fadnavis was leading by 2,246 votes from Nagpur South-West and Pawar by 3,759 votes in Baramati seat, where he is locked in a tussle with his nephew Yugendra Pawar.

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole was leading by 344 votes from Sakoli constituency at the end of first round.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and sitting MLA Aaditya Thackeray was leading in Worli assembly seat in Mumbai by 495 votes, the poll officials said.

Congress Legislature Party leader and former minister Balasaheb Thorat was trailing in Sangamner assembly seat by 1,831 votes.

Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan was also trailing by 1,590 votes in Karad South assembly seat at the end of the first round of counting, the officials added.

The counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections began at 8 am Saturday, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

The final turnout in the polls, held on November 20, was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019.

Mumbai | The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance appeared set to retain power in Maharashtra, and was leading in 145 of the 288 assembly seats, as per the latest figures by the Election Commission.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi appeared stumbling, with its candidates leading in 45 seats, as per the early trends.

TV channels, however, said the Mahayuti was ahead in 193 seats and MVA in 89 constituencies, as counting of votes commenced Saturday morning in the November 20 elections.

As per ECI figures, in the Mahayuti, BJP candidates were leading in 75 seats, Shiv Sena in 42 and NCP in 28 seats.

In the MVA, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidates were leading in 19 seats, and Congress and and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) in 15 seats each.

Counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections began at 8 am Saturday, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

The final turnout in the polls, held on November 20, was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019.

In the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.

In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates.

Mumbai | The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance was leading in 157 of the 288 seats in the state and the Maha Vikas Aghadi in 125 as counting of votes commenced Saturday morning in the November 20 elections, TV channels reported.

However, the Election Commission of India's website showed trends in 150 of the 288 seats.

As per ECI figures, in the Mahayuti, BJP candidates were leading in 50 seats, Shiv Sena in 27 and NCP in 22 seats. It said in the MVA, Congress candidates were leading in 14 seats, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) in 13 seats and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) in 12 seats.

Counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections began Saturday morning, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which is seeking to make a comeback.

The counting of votes in all the 288 seats commenced at 8 am in all the counting centres in the state, an election official said.

At the counting centres, officials first began verifying and counting the postal ballots, with the counting of EVM votes scheduled to start at 8.30 am. There will be a minimum of 20 rounds of counting in each assembly segment.

The final turnout in the polls, held on November 20, was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019.

In the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.

In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates.

Mumbai | The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance was leading in 146 of the 288 seats in the state and the Maha Vikas Aghadi in 132 as counting of votes commenced Saturday morning in the November 20 elections, TV channels reported.

Counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections began Saturday morning, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which is seeking to make a comeback.

The counting of votes in all the 288 seats commenced at 8 am in all the counting centres in the state, an election official said.

At the counting centres, officials first began verifying and counting the postal ballots, after which the counting of EVM votes began. There will be a minimum of 20 rounds of counting in each assembly segment.

The final turnout in the polls, held on November 20, was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019.

In the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.

In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates.