NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Exit polls that Wednessday predicted either an equal battle or given the advantage to MVA have given a higher number of seats to 'others'. Dainik Bhaskar, Electoral Edge and SAS predicted 'Advantage INDIA bloc' or MVA but except for 'Electoral Edge', nobody completely wrote off the Mahayuti which came close to the majority mark of 145 seats.
Maharashtra's polls this time have two main alliances with three key parties each: the Mahayuti with BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, and the MVA with Congress, NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar and the Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray.
While most of the exit polls stated that the BJP would emerge as the single largest party, followed by the Congress, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, Shiv Sena, UBT Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, a few hinted that rebels and independents could play a crucial role in the formation of the new govt. Poll Diary, P-Marq, Lokshahi Marathi-Rudra and Dainik Bhaskar indicated room for independents and rebels for manouevering.
Meanwhile, two other local polls emerged. TV9's exit poll gave 129-139 seats to the Mahayuti, 136-145 to MVA and 13-23 to 'others', thus indicating that 'others' could have a role to play. Poll Tracker on the other hand gave Mahayuti 122-135 seats and 150-163 to the MVA and 2-9 to 'others.'
MPCC president Nana Patole has claimed that the Congress would emerge as the single largest party and that the Maha Vikas Aghadi would form the govt, while both Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar have stated that the people of Maharashtra will provide a decisive mandate to the Mahayuti.
"We do not take the exit polls seriously," a Congress leader told TOI.
The list of exit polls was compiled by TOI from news media and posts on X from their official handles.
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