According to the Election Commission's figures, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde was leading by 4,053 votes in the Kopri-Pachpakhadi assembly seat after the first round of counting. His deputy, Devendra Fadnavis, was ahead by 2,246 votes in the Nagpur South-West constituency, while NCP's Ajit Pawar led by 3,759 votes in Baramati, where he is contesting against his nephew, Yugendra Pawar.
Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole was leading by 344 votes in Sakoli, while Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, the sitting MLA, was ahead by 495 votes in the Worli assembly seat in Mumbai. However, Congress Legislature Party leader and former minister Balasaheb Thorat was trailing by 1,831 votes in Sangamner, and senior Congress leader and former CM Prithviraj Chavan was behind by 1,590 votes in the Karad South assembly seat.
Accusations of nepotism have resurfaced during Maharashtra's election season, with political dynasties once again dominating the race.
In the November 20 assembly elections, influential leaders from across the political spectrum have fielded their relatives, including sons, daughters, nephews, and cousins, as candidates.
The practice of dynastic politics remains a key feature of the state's political landscape as these prominent families continue to assert their influence in the quest for power.
The way Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar have worked in these two and half years, one thing is clear that people have voted based on their work. It will be history as it will be a hattrick today.
A short while from now, trends will start coming in. From what I can understand, the results of the work we did is going to be out. The manner in which we worked for people, providing Old Pension Scheme for employees, waived off farm loans up to Rs 2 Lakhs, provided free electricity up to 200 units to the public, provided help to the elderly people through pension, honoured women through Maiya Samman Yojana. The stamp of approval by people on those schemes will reflect in the results. We believe that this day will decide the future of Jharkhand...We believe that we will form an even stronger government once again. We will take our schemes to the people for another five years.