The counting of votes for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, along with several bypolls, has begun, and early leads suggest a major shift in the political landscape.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is on track for a landslide victory in Maharashtra, while the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) appears to have surged ahead in Jharkhand.
After nearly three hours of vote counting, the NDA in Maharashtra is securing a decisive mandate, outpacing the opposition.
Exit polls had predicted a tight race, but the trends indicate a clear win for the NDA coalition, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. The Mahayuti alliance, which the BJP leads, contested 148 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 80 and NCP with 52 seats. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is trailing, with Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Bal Thackeray), and NCP (Sharad Pawar) fielding 102, 96, and 86 seats respectively.
The election is particularly significant as it marks the first contest since the splits in both the NCP and Shiv Sena, following political upheavals in 2022. The results will have a lasting impact on the future of these parties, especially with leaders like Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde competing for the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray. The NCP's internal division also adds weight to this election, with Ajit Pawar now part of the ruling coalition.
In Jharkhand, early trends suggest a tough battle between the ruling JMM-led alliance and the NDA. The JMM-led government, headed by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, is banking on its achievements, while the NDA, led by the BJP, is targeting the state's governance issues, including tribal rights and infiltration concerns.
The election results will have far-reaching consequences for local and national politics. In addition, votes are being counted for several bypolls across the country, including the Wayanad by-election in Kerala, where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is contesting, and several seats in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
