Maharashtra Election Results 2024 Highlights: No qualms in accepting Ajit Pawar got more seats, but everyone knows who's NCP founder, says Sharad Pawar

Maharashtra election results: Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant moves a resolution electing Eknath Shinde as the party's group leader

Maharashtra election results: Five to six opposition MLAs might cross over to Mahayuti: NCP chief whip Anil Patil

There is unrest in the Maha Vikas Aghadi camp and its five to six MLAs might join the ruling Mahayuti in the next few months, claimed NCP chief whip Anil Patil, who has retained his Amalner assembly seat, on Sunday.

The MVA of Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) suffered a crushing blow in the Maharashtra assembly polls, winning only 46 of the state's 288 seats. By contrast, the BJP-led ruling coalition, which also has NCP and Shiv Sena as partners, bagged an impressive 230 seats.

"There is tremendous unrest among some NCP (SP), Congress and Sena (UBT) MLAs who have been re-elected. Those having good relations with us have expressed concerns over MVA's massive defeat," Patil told Marathi news channel ABP Majha.

If one wants development works in his constituency, it is good to be in power, said the legislator from Ajit Pawar's party.

"The MVA MLAs feel their future is uncertain. It shouldn't be a surprise if five to six MLAs cross over to the Mahayuti in the next four months," he said. (PTI)

Maharashtra election results: 'Results are unexpected,' says Jitendra Awhad after BJP-led Mahayuti sweeps state polls

A day after the Mahayuti alliance clinched a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections, NCP-SCP leader Jitendra Awhad expressed disappointment over the results, saying that it is "unexcpected."

"The results are unexpected. We have to accept them, but it is difficult because the ground reality was completely different," Awhad told ANI.

Meanwhile, Pune NCP president Deepak Mankar said that the party workers are in favour of making 'dada' (Ajit Pawar) the Chief Minister of the state.

"The workers of NCP wish that if 'dada' (Ajit Pawar), then Maharashtra will get a good direction. Dada has the capacity to do work...we know the kind of work he did in Maharashtra as deputy CM in the last 2.5 years...let's see...Mahayuti is taking everyone along," Mankar told ANI.

Maharashtra election results: Kangana says MVA lost in Maharashtra because it disrespected women

A day after the Mahayuti alliance trounced the MVA in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut on Sunday likened the opposition alliance with "daitya" and said it suffered this fate because it had disrespected women. Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Ranaut said, "I expected such a bad failure of Uddhav Thackeray.

We can identify who is a 'devta (god)' and who is a 'daitya (satan)' depending on if they respect women or work for their welfare."

Ranaut and then-Maharashtra chief minister Thackeray's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government had a bitter run-in in 2020 with the then-undivided Shiv Sena-led Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation demolishing alleged illegal alterations at her Bandra bungalow.

He faced the same fate as "daitya", the Mandi MP added.

"Those who do not respect women can never win. They demolished my home and verbally abused me," she alleged. (PTI)

Maharashtra election results: 'Will go to people' - Sharad Pawar accepts Maharashtra mandate, maintains claim on NCP

In first reaction after his party's dismal performance in Maharashtra assembly polls, Sharad Pawar on Sunday said the election results "were not on expected lines" and that he would "study reasons and go to the people". Read full story

Maharashtra election results: Mahayuti leaders, BJP parliamentary board to decide on next Maharashtra CM, says Bawankule

Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Sunday said leaders of the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the BJP leadership will decide who will be the next chief minister of the state.

Answering a query on the state's next chief minister, Bawankule said the decision would be taken by the Mahayuti leaders and the BJP's parliamentary board. The selection process would be in-line with the alliance's plans for governance, he added.

The people of Maharashtra have "rejected" the Congress and Patole should pay heed to some of his own colleagues who have been seeking his resignation as the state party chief, Bawankule said.

Maharashtra election results: NCP workers favour Ajit Pawar as Maharashtra CM, says NCP Pune chief Deepak Mankar

A day after the Mahayuti alliance clinched a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections, Pune NCP president Deepak Mankar on Sunday said that the party workers are in favour of making 'dada' (Ajit Pawar) the chief minister of the state.

"The workers of NCP wish that if 'dada' (Ajit Pawar), then Maharashtra will get a good direction. Dada has the capacity to do work...we know the kind of work he did in Maharashtra as deputy CM in the last 2.5 years...let's see...Mahayuti is taking everyone along," Mankar told ANI.

When asked about CM's face, he said it had been decided that leaders of three parties would sit together and decide on the chief minister.

"PM Modi and Amit Shah will take the decision, everyone will sit together. Fadnavis, Shinde and Dada (Ajit Pawar) three of them are capable," he added.

Maharashtra election results: 'Record-breaking victory': Nityanand Rai after Mahayuti sweeps Maharashtra polls

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said on Sunday that the BJP-led NDA have achieved a "record-breaking victory" in Maharashtra and that people have expressed their faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has registered a great victory. It is the result of the Prime Minister's focus on development. The people of this country have expressed their faith in the progress. The BJP and NDA have achieved a record-breaking victory in Maharashtra and all the bye-elections. People have shown their confidence in the leadership of PM Modi. The NDA has won all the four seats in Bihar," Nityanand Rai told reporters.

Maharashtra election results: Maharashtra, Jharkhand poll results will have far-reaching effects: KC Tyagi

Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi on Sunday said that the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly election results will have far-reaching effects and that the NDA and BJP's performance in these polls will pose a significant threat to Congress and its allies.

"The Maharashtra election results will have far-reaching effects. The NDA and BJP's performance in the elections will pose a huge threat to Congress and its allies in the coming times...In Jharkhand, the NDA needs to work more in the tribal and protected areas," Tyagi said while speaking to ANI.

The ruling Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory in the Maharashtra assembly polls. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance registered a smashing victory, carrying its allies--Shiv Sena and NCP--with its momentum. The BJP won 132 seats, Shiv Sena, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, secured 57 seats, and the NCP faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar claimed 41 seats. The Maharashtra assembly has 288 seats in total.

In contrast, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a major setback. The Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, won only 20 seats, Congress managed 16, and the NCP(SP) led by Sharad Pawar won just 10 seats.

The BJP demonstrated an impressive strike, winning 133 of the 148 seats it contested in Maharashtra. The party's allies, the Shiv Sena and NCP factions, also performed well. The Maharashtra assembly elections were held on November 20.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined celebrations at the BJP headquarters, following the Mahayuti's landslide victory in Maharashtra assembly elections and said the people of the state have defeated "negative and parivarvad politics."

Meanwhile in Jharkhand, Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) steered the INDIA bloc to victory, winning 56 seats in the 81-member assembly. The JMM won 34 seats, while its allies secured 22 seats. Among the allies, the Congress won 16 seats, the RJD won four, and the CPI-ML won two seats.

The BJP-led NDA won only 24 seats in Jharkhand. The BJP secured 21 seats, while its allies the AJSU party, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and JD-U -- won one seat each. Additionally, Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha, a smaller party contesting state assembly elections, won a seat with its chief, Jairam Kumar Mahato, emerging victorious in the Dumri constituency.

The JMM-led alliance retained power in Jharkhand, where assembly polls were conducted in two phases--on November 13 and November 20. (ANI)

Maharashtra election results: Congress will ensure Mahayuti fulfils its poll promises: Patole; says party will probe defeat

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Sunday said that the Congress will ensure the newly-elected Mahayuti government fulfils promises it made to the people of the state in its election manifesto and speeches. Addressing a press conference here, the Congress leader said the Mahayuti, which banked on the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme for its victory in the state election, should immediately fulfil its promise of raising the monthly allowance for women from Rs 1,500 to 2,100.

The Mahayuti recorded a landslide victory, winning 230 out of 288 seats in the state assembly elections. The BJP bagged 132 seats, the Shiv Sena 57, and NCP 41 seats. The MVA, on the other hand, suffered a drubbing, managing just 46 seats together. The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) won 10 seats, Congress got 16, and Shiv Sena (UBT) 20 seats.

Patole himself won by 208 votes, one of the lowest margins, from the Sakoli assembly constituency in Bhandara district.

The Congress leader said the assembly election results were unexpected for the opposition Maha Vikas Agahdi (MVA) and the people of Maharashtra.

He said, "People are discussing how the Mahayuti could manage such a big win. They are confused. We do not want to comment or talk about EVMs, and it is the need of the hour to find out how it all happened, and accordingly, the Congress take necessary steps."

He said the All India Congress Committee (AICC) will conduct an inquiry into the outcome of the election and study what went wrong.

Patole said the Mahayuti credited the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme for its win, and it should immediately start disbursing Rs 2,100 as promised to the eligible women beneficiaries.

He asked the Mahayuti government to immediately fulfil its promises of supplying 24-hour electricity to farmers, Rs 6,000 MSP for soyabean, Rs 9,000 for cotton and a Rs 1,000 bonus to paddy cultivators.

"We will ensure that the Mahayuti government fulfils the promises it made to farmers during the elections," Patole said.

The Congress leader said the party would also ensure the government gives the jobs promised to the youth and makes Maharashtra corruption-free. (PTI)

Maharashtra election results: Voters reject turncoats in western Maharashtra

Many candidates in western Maharashtra who had switched over from other parties ahead of the assembly elections suffered defeats, in what could be a public message against political opportunism.

Former state minister Harshvardhan Patil, who recently joined Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP), lost in Indapur to sitting Congress MLA Dattatray Bharne fielded by Ajit Pawar-led NCP by a margin of 19,410 votes.

Bharne polled 1,17,236 votes compared to 97,826 votes by Patil.

Notably, Patil had left the Congress before the 2019 state elections to join the BJP but was similarly defeated by Bharne, who was then with the undivided NCP.

In Kolhapur's Kagal constituency, Samarjeet Ghatge, another turncoat, was trounced by NCP minister Hasan Mushrif by 11,581 votes. Ghatge had moved from the BJP to NCP (SP) before the elections.

Meanwhile, in Tasgaon of Sangli district, former BJP MP Sanjaykaka Patil, who joined NCP to contest the polls, was defeated by Rohit Patil by 27,644 votes.

Rohit Patil, son of former home minister R R Patil, polled 1,28,403 votes, while Sanjaykaka Patil secured 1,00,759 votes. (PTI)

Uddhav Thackeray’s political turmoil has reached a new low, with his Shiv Sena (UBT) securing just 17 of 85 contested seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The loss of the iconic Shiv Sena name and bow-and-arrow symbol to Eknath Shinde, a former ally turned adversary, has left Uddhav grappling with his party’s diminished influence. Once the face of the Shiv Sena, Uddhav’s political legacy now appears to be in peril, as he faces the growing discontent of his base, particularly in Mumbai, a key stronghold.

In response to the unexpected results, Uddhav expressed disbelief, likening the outcome to a tsunami. “It seems as if a tsunami has come, rather than a wave,” he said, hinting at his confusion over the causes behind the unexpected shift in voter sentiment. Reflecting on the issues that dominated the campaign, Uddhav questioned whether anger over economic conditions and safety concerns had driven the wave of support for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. Despite the crushing defeat, Uddhav vowed to continue fighting for the rights of Maharashtra, promising his supporters that their struggle was far from over.

Maharashtra election results: Prominent faces stumble amid Mahayuti's resounding victory

Despite the BJP-led Mahayuti's historic win in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, several stalwarts across alliances faced surprising defeats. In the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) camp, notable losses included Congress veterans Prithviraj Chavan, Balasaheb Thorat, and Dhiraj Deshmukh, as well as NCP (SCP)'s Yugendra Pawar and Fahad Ahmad. In contrast, Ajit Pawar retained his stronghold in Baramati, decisively defeating his nephew Yugendra Pawar by over 1 lakh votes. Meanwhile, Mahayuti leaders like BJP's Milind Deora and NCP’s Zeeshan Siddique also fell short in their constituencies, showcasing mixed fortunes even within the victorious alliance.

Maharashtra election results: Grassroots strategy involved small ‘tolis’ engaging with locals across Maharashtra

To galvanise support for the BJP in Maharashtra, the RSS organised small teams of ‘swayamsevaks’ (volunteers), known as 'tolis,' who conducted targeted outreach across the state. These teams held small group meetings with local communities, covering national issues, Hindutva, good governance, development, and local concerns, all while refraining from directly endorsing the BJP. This approach was aimed at subtly influencing public opinion, particularly in the 'mohallas' of localities. The programme proved successful, contributing to the BJP's strong performance at the polls.

Maharashtra election results: RSS’s strategic outreach key to BJP's success in assembly polls

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) once again proved to be a pivotal force behind the BJP's electoral triumph in Maharashtra, as the latest vote count reveals the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition secured over 230 seats out of the 288 in the state assembly. This resounding victory left the opposition Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT)-NCP(SP) combine with only 50 seats. Ahead of the election, the RSS launched a comprehensive outreach programme, working closely with its affiliates to shape public opinion in favour of the BJP-led alliance, which proved critical in securing the win.

Maharashtra election results: Ex-BJP, Congress leaders defeated in Maharashtra assembly polls after party switches

Several candidates in western Maharashtra, who switched parties ahead of the assembly elections, faced defeat, which may be seen as a public reprimand for political opportunism.

Former state minister Harshvardhan Patil, who recently joined Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP), lost to sitting Congress MLA Dattatray Bharne, fielded by Ajit Pawar's NCP, by a significant margin of 19,410 votes. Bharne secured 1,17,236 votes, while Patil could only garner 97,826 votes. Patil had previously left the Congress before the 2019 elections to join the BJP but was also defeated by Bharne, who was then with the undivided NCP.

In Kolhapur’s Kagal constituency, Samarjeet Ghatge, another candidate who changed allegiance, was trounced by NCP minister Hasan Mushrif by 11,581 votes. Ghatge, who switched from the BJP to NCP (SP), failed to secure a win.

In the Tasgaon constituency of Sangli district, former BJP MP Sanjaykaka Patil, who joined NCP to contest the elections, was defeated by Rohit Patil by a margin of 27,644 votes. Rohit Patil, the son of former home minister R.R. Patil, secured 1,28,403 votes, while Sanjaykaka Patil managed only 1,00,759 votes.

After unexpected setbacks in key constituencies during the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, the BJP found itself at a critical juncture in Maharashtra. The party faced significant losses in several constituencies, notably Dhule and Mumbai North-East, where it had once enjoyed strong support. The reason behind this was attributed to the polarisation of Muslim votes against the BJP. In response, the party sought to recalibrate its strategy to regain its lost ground and redefine its image. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP launched a concerted effort to not only reclaim these lost constituencies but also assert its dominance once again. The PM introduced the slogan “ek hain to safe hain” (together we are safe), appealing to the Hindu electorate by emphasizing unity as a defense against division. This was more than just a call for communal solidarity; it was framed as a rallying cry for national cohesion under BJP’s leadership.

Maharashtra election results: BJP makes historic gains, Congress faces worst-ever defeat in assembly elections

The Maharashtra Assembly elections marked a stunning recovery for the BJP, which clinched a record 132 of the 288 seats, surpassing its previous high of 122 in 2014. In stark contrast, Congress suffered its worst performance to date, securing just 15 seats, a sharp decline from its 44-seat haul in 2019. BJP’s success was driven by a coordinated campaign, with state and central leaders, including Devendra Fadnavis, Chandrashekar Bawankule, Narendra Modi, and Amit Shah, working in unison to counter anti-incumbency and strengthen their position across Maharashtra’s regions.

Maharashtra election results: BJP dominates in assembly elections, winning 65 out of 75 direct contests against Congress

In a high-stakes electoral battle, the BJP emerged triumphant in 65 of the 75 constituencies where it faced direct competition from Congress. This decisive victory left Congress with just 10 seats, underscoring the growing dominance of the BJP in the state. The contest, part of the larger Mahayuti versus Maha Vikas Aghadi face-off, highlighted the BJP’s overwhelming advantage, despite the initial optimism surrounding Congress following its resurgence in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year.

Maharashtra election results: Prithviraj Chavan calls Maharashtra poll defeat ‘worst ever,’ cites rural success of Ladki Bahin Yojana

Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan expressed shock over the party’s defeat in the state assembly elections, calling it the “worst-ever” loss in the state's history. Speaking to PTI on Sunday, Chavan attributed the ruling Mahayuti alliance’s success to the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a scheme providing financial assistance to women, which resonated strongly with rural voters. Meanwhile, he noted that polarisation negatively impacted the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in urban constituencies.

“It’s hard to say whether there was a wave in favour of the ruling alliance or if there was any tampering,” said Chavan, who himself lost his Karad South seat in Satara. Chavan had expected to win the seat by a margin of 5,000 to 6,000 votes, but the results saw MVA candidates in the district losing by as much as 40,000 votes.

BJP’s Atul Bhosale triumphed over Chavan in Karad South by a massive margin of 39,355 votes, according to the Election Commission’s results. The Congress, which contested 101 seats as part of the MVA, suffered its worst-ever defeat, securing just 16 seats in the assembly.

Reflecting on the loss, Chavan recalled the Congress' lowest tally in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections, when the party won only 20 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra. "This is a shocking defeat and the worst-ever in the assembly polls," he said.

Chavan mentioned that he had already spoken with Ramesh Chennithala, the All India Congress Committee in-charge for Maharashtra, who has left for Delhi to brief the Congress leadership about the poll results. “I will stay back in Karad for two days to meet the people,” he added.

Maharashtra election results: Congress pledges introspection after setback in Maharashtra, Venugopal calls results 'shocking'

In the wake of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance securing a decisive victory in Maharashtra, the Congress has vowed to reflect on the reasons behind its disappointing performance. On Saturday, the BJP-led alliance clinched 230 of the 288 assembly seats, while the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) could only secure 46 seats.

AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal expressed his surprise, describing the results as "shocking" and "unbelievable." Speaking to a TV channel, he said, "We don’t understand what happened. This was not just a defeat for the Congress party, but for the entire Maha Vikas Aghadi. We need to assess what went wrong."

Venugopal acknowledged the unexpected nature of the election results, particularly following the Congress's setbacks in Maharashtra and Haryana. When asked about the possibility of sabotage, he clarified that the Congress was not making such allegations immediately after the defeat. "We suffered significant losses in strongholds traditionally dominated by leaders like Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, and even the Congress. It’s a failure of the entire alliance," he explained. The party intends to introspect collectively to understand the reasons behind the loss.

The Election Commission revealed that in Maharashtra, the BJP won 132 seats, Shiv Sena took 57, and the NCP secured 41 seats. Within the MVA, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) won 10 seats, Congress managed 16, and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) won 20 seats.

Venugopal also addressed the Congress's success in Wayanad, where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra won with a landslide victory, securing more than four lakh votes. He attributed this victory to the collective effort of party leaders and workers, adding that internal party assessments assured them that the low voter turnout would not negatively affect the outcome.

He further stressed that Priyanka would continue to raise key issues, including the tragic Wayanad landslide, in the Lok Sabha. Venugopal rejected the opposition's claims that Priyanka would neglect her constituency, asserting that she would prove them wrong through her actions. He confirmed that Priyanka would continue her work in North Indian politics while serving as the MP for Wayanad.

Shiv Sena's Shaina NC hails historic vote count, urges support for progress

Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC expressed gratitude to voters in Mumba Devi for their overwhelming support, marking a historic moment for her party.

"I want to thank the voters of Mumba Devi for giving me 40,150 votes, the highest any candidate from Shiv Sena has ever received," said Shaina. She urged those who refrained from voting to reconsider in future elections, emphasising, "Please consider voting for progress and development as we have seen the injustice done to this area in the last 15 years."

Shaina also celebrated the broader success of the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, describing it as a "tsunami of political performance."

The win highlights growing support for the alliance's vision of development and change across the state.

Maharashtra election results: BJP celebrates landslide victory in Maharashtra, vows vigilance in Jharkhand

In response to the election results in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo expressed both triumph and disappointment.

"Yesterday’s results brought us a landslide victory in Maharashtra and in all the by-elections held across the country," said Shah Deo. "However, the wheel of victory stopped in Jharkhand, and we are deeply upset as both we and our allies made every effort to succeed."

Shah Deo assured that the BJP would take on the role of a vigilant opposition in Jharkhand. "As a responsible opposition, we will give constructive support to the Hemant government while also acting as a watchdog. Last time, allegations of scams were rampant, and it is our duty to ensure that there is no corruption and to raise our voice against any wrongdoing," he added.

The BJP aims to fulfil its responsibilities as a strong opposition, focusing on ensuring accountability and transparency in governance.

No CM's race in Mahayuti, top ministers will take a call, says Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said there is no race for the chief minister's post in Mahayuti. He told TOI, "We have secured an unprecedented victory. It was a tsunami of a different kind, and the entire opposition has almost been wiped out, but there is no race for the CM's post. The decision on the new CM will be taken by senior netas of Shiv Sena, NCP and the BJP high command."Fadnavis attributed Mahayuti's victory to the faith of the people of Maharashtra in the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.

"It's a fact that during the Lok Sabha elections, our performance was not up to the mark. In the post-LS polls period, people realised BJP was targeted by divisive and anti-national forces. They took revenge and voted in favour of Mahayuti. We are grateful to the people of Maharashtra for expressing confidence in Modi's leadership," he said.

The passage of time seemed momentarily suspended at Bhigwan Chowk, Baramati's political epicentre as the constituency stepped into a new chapter on Saturday, with Tennyson's words echoing powerfully: "The old order changeth, yielding place to new..."

By noon, 65-year-old Ajit Pawar, often referred to as 'Dada', cemented his position as Baramati's political heir, defeating nephew Yugendra Pawar of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) by a decisive margin of 1,00,899 votes.

The square was awash in pink - the colour of Ajit Pawar's NCP faction - as supporters marked it with deafening drums, a shower of flower petals, and bike rallies through the streets. The celebrations departed dramatically from the traditionally subdued tones associated with the Pawar family.

Pawar-ful Ajit's NCP wins 4x seats of uncle Sharad's party

Sharad Pawar's self-proclaimed swansong in electoral politics ended in a damp squib with his nephew's NCP winning more than 4x the seats that his own party could muster. In retaliation for Ajit's decision to field his wife against Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule, the Maratha warhorse had turned the Baramati contest again into a prestige fight, pitching Ajit's nephew against him. The gambit didn't pay off.

Ajit's NCP has upped its score from a mere six assembly segment leads in the LS results to a tally of 41 MLAs, in the process beating the senior Pawar's nominees in 27 head-to-head clashes; the latter won 7 of those contests.

Ajit has extended his sway over western Maharashtra (22 seats), Marathwada (10) and Vidarbha (5) while the majority of seats the senior Pawar held on to are all in western Maharashtra.

Shinde emerges as undisputed champ in Sena vs Sena duel

The Sena vs Sena fight in 51 seats has swung decisively in favour of Eknath Shinde's formation, which has won 36 of them. Among the 40 MLAs who deserted Uddhav Thackeray and went with Shinde in 2022, only a handful couldn't win this time. Clearly, the charges of being traitors to the cause haven't stuck.

Shinde's party has won 57 seats in all, improving on its leads since the LS results in which it was ahead in 40 assembly segments, indicating wider acceptance of Shinde's record in governance as CM and his credentials as an inheritor of the Sena legacy.

In Shiv Sena (UBT)'s den Mumbai where Uddhav's party fought 22 seats, it has managed to bag only 10, compared with 14 in 2019 when Sena was united. Uddhav will now face a tougher challenge in keeping his flock together, political observers feel.

The Sangh Parivar unleashed its well-oiled machinery to power BJP-led Mahayuti to a landslide victory. The Nagpur-headquartered organisation quietly mobilised its vast network of cadres, organising over 60,000 voter meetings statewide to counter opposition narratives and consolidate support under the campaign banner - 'Sajagraho' (Be vigilant, be awake).

Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, in an exclusive interview to TOI on Nov 6, acknowledged BJP sought Sangh's help to dispel "fake narratives" of Congress and its allies on issues like reservations, 'vote-jihad' and constitutional integrity.

Congress leader Udit Raj on PM Modi's statement after Mahayuti's win in Maharashtra Election

Congress leader Udit Raj said, "PM Modi said that they have won because people unitedly voted for them after his 'ek hain toh safe hain' slogan. If this is the case, why didn't they win Jharkhand?... If they had won in Savarkar's name, it would have happened long ago. They are just trying to cover up. Something suspicious has happened during the Maharashtra elections. We have doubts about the EVM."

Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024: Mixed bag for MVA, Mahayuti in Muslim-dominated seats

In the Maharashtra Assembly polls on Saturday, constituencies with over 35 per cent Muslim voters showed varied results. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) secured six seats, whilst the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance won four.

In Malegaon Central, where Muslims comprise 78 per cent of voters, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad Muslimeen (AIMIM) candidate Mufti Mohammed Khalique secured victory with 1,09,653 votes, narrowly defeating Asif Shaikh Rashid of the Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra by 162 votes.

The BJP abstained from contesting in Malegaon Central, whilst Congress candidate Ejaz Baig received 7,527 votes.

In the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar constituency, Samajwadi Party's (SP) Abu Asim Azmi emerged victorious with 54,780 votes, leading by 12,753 votes against AIMIM's Ateeque Ahmad Khan.

In this constituency, which has 53 per cent Muslim voters, Nawab Malik from Ajit Pawar-led NCP finished fourth, whilst Shiv Sena's Suresh Patil secured the third position with 35,263 votes. Malik's candidature had notably caused concern within the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.

Maharashtra results historic endorsement of our governance model, rejection of Cong's lies, deceit: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the BJP-led coalition's decisive victory in Maharashtra, presenting it as public validation of their governance approach and a rebuff to the Congress party's alleged deceptive practices.

He criticised the Gandhi family, accusing them of fostering social division and caste-based discord. Following the National Democratic Alliance's significant triumph in this politically crucial state, Modi criticised the Congress for allegedly undermining constitutional secular principles and referenced the Waqf Act, which his administration aims to modify, as evidence of preferential treatment.

He stated that the Congress has severely undermined genuine secularism and emphasised that the Waqf law lacks constitutional foundation.

He reinforced his slogan "ek hain to safe hain", noting that this message from Maharashtra, following the Haryana elections, has evolved into the nation's guiding principle.

He observed that the Congress party's ability to secure power independently has diminished significantly, characterising it as dependent on other political entities.

Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024: Thank 'Ladli Behna' and 14 crore people of Maharashtra, says state BJP president

"I thank 'Ladli Behna' and the 14 crore people of Maharashtra that they believed in us and gave us their vote. We will definitely work towards making Maharashtra, India's number one state," said state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

'Gadkari family graciously did 'Aukshan' and warmly blessed me,' Fadnavis

The zeal and enthusiasm of the party workers who gathered at the BJP headquarters in Delhi to celebrate the victory of democracy filled us with new energy!: PM Modi

Clueless in defeat, Uddhav Thackeray may struggle to keep his decimated flock together

Uddhav Thackeray, who played the bold gambit of taking on the ally BJP in 2019 and forged an unlikely alliance with the Congress and NCP, was on Saturday left struggling to make sense of his party's rout in the Maharashtra assembly elections.

Thackeray, whose Shiv Sena (UBT) won only 20 out of the 95 seats it contested, admitted that he could not understand how the electorate which had inflicted a drubbing on the ruling BJP-led alliance in the Lok Sabha elections only five months ago changed its mind.

From the shy son of a charismatic and firebrand Hindutva politician, the late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, Uddhav has come a long way. Early on, he survived challenges from party stalwart Narayan Rane and cousin Raj Thackeray, and went on to become the Maharashtra chief minister in November 2019 when he ended the decades-long alliance with the BJP after the assembly elections.

Soon, the COVID-19 pandemic followed, and Uddhav easily connected with the people during that difficult period as he addressed them directly by using social media tools such as Facebook live. He came across as an affable leader who could reassure people.

While his leadership during the pandemic won him praise, Uddhav Thackeray remained clueless about the simmering discontent in a big section of the party which resented the alliance with the Congress and NCP, erstwhile ideological foes. Eknath Shinde's rebellion in June 2022 seemed to have taken him by surprise, leading to the fall of his government and a vertical split in the party.

'The people of Maharashtra have rejected the politics of appeasement,' says Union minister Piyush Goyal

Union Minister Piyush Goyal says, "Once again, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the BJP-Mahayuti has achieved a resounding victory. This victory is a good message to accelerate the goal of Prime Minister Modi's developed India 2047, to further advance the development of Maharashtra. The people of Maharashtra have rejected the politics of appeasement of the Congress and the Maha Vikas Aghadi"

Outside visuals from the Sena Bhawan (Uddhav Thackeray faction office), in Mumbai

AIMIM retains Malegaon Central seat in north Maharashtra by razor-thin margin of 162 votes

Union Minister Piyush Goyal joined celebrations at BJP Mumbai North district headquarters

'State and people have analyzed everything and voted in our favour,' says deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis's wife Amruta Fadnavis after Mahayuti's victory

Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis's wife Amruta Fadnavis said, "Everyone is happy that BJP has got such a big victory. Mahayuti and BJP have performed brilliantly and today is a historic day. Ladli Behna Yojana has had a huge impact and we have benefited from it. BJP has done development work in the state and people have analyzed everything and voted in our favour."

Maharashtra BJP chief Bawankule wins from Kampthi seat

Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule won from Kampthi seat in Nagpur district by a margin of 40,946 votes. He defeated Congress' Suresh Bhoyar in the assembly polls, results of which were announced on Saturday. Bawankule bagged 174979 votes, while Bhoyar secured 134033 votes. He represented the seat in 2004, 2009 and 2014 but was denied a ticket in 2019.
Rewrite

'Negative politics, parivarvaad have been defeated': PM Modi lauds Mahayuti's smashing victory in Maharashtra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday joined celebrations at BJP headquarters following party-led Mahayuti's landslide victory in Maharashtra assembly elections and said people of the state have defeated "negative and parivarvad politics."
He said Maharashtra has strengthened the resolve for a developed India.

"Development, good governance and social justice have won in Maharashtra. Lies and deceit have suffered a crushing defeat. Today negative politics has been defeated. Today 'Parivarvad' have been defeated. Today Maharashtra has strengthened the resolve for a developed India. I congratulate all the workers of BJP and NDA across the country," PM Modi said addressing the party workers and leaders.

He lauded Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, state Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar for victory in Maharashtra polls.

The Prime Minister referred to the slogan 'Ek hain toh safe hain', raised by him during the assembly polls in Maharashtra and Jharkhand and said the biggest message of the polls is unity.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis arrives at his residence in Nagpur; receives a warm welcome

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde paid tribute at the statue of Anand Dighe in Thane

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde paid tribute at the statue of Anand Dighe in Thane

Difficult to digest Maharashtra results: Congress

Shaken by the near-total rout in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Congress said it is “surprised by the unexpected outcome” as it was going against the public sentiments, here on Saturday.

“We are absolutely surprised… The state President Nana F. Patole lost, 8-time winner Vijay Balasaheb Thorat was vanquished, veteran ex-chief minister Prithviraj Chavan was defeated… The Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar survived by a hair’s breadth,” said AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala.

He said that in the morning the Maha Vikas Aghadi was leading in around 150 seats, and suddenly the trend reversed, raising doubts which the three parties will now review and decide on its future strategies.

While unconditionally and unhesitantly “accepting defeat for the debacle”, Chennithala said that the party will collect the complete data from the Election Commission of India (ECI) and study it before making any definite comments.

People of Maharashtra have reaffirmed their support for BJP and Mahayuti: JP Nadda

BJP president JP Nadda on Saturday credited the party's recent success in Maharashtra to the people's continued support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. Speaking about the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Nadda accused Uddhav Thackeray of betraying the mandate.

"We (BJP-led NDA) had received the mandate in 2019 as well, but Uddhav Thackeray betrayed that mandate due to his greed for power," Nadda said. He asserted that the recent election results demonstrate that the people of Maharashtra stand firmly with PM Modi, the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP, and Shiv Sena.

The BJP president's comments come after the Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory in the state polls, further solidifying its position in Maharashtra. Nadda expressed gratitude to the voters for reaffirming their faith in the leadership of the NDA.

PM Modi hails Maharashtra poll win as victory for development and good governance

Following the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance's decisive victory in the Maharashtra polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a victory speech at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi. He attributed the win to the people's trust in development and good governance.

"Development, good governance, and social justice have won in Maharashtra. Lies and deceit have suffered a crushing defeat," PM Modi said, emphasizing the mandate as a rejection of negative politics.

PM Modi also thanked the voters for their overwhelming support and reaffirmed the BJP's commitment to working for the welfare of Maharashtra's citizens. He highlighted the victory as an endorsement of the NDA government's efforts to ensure inclusive growth and stability in the state.

The Mahayuti alliance's triumph marks a significant political development, showcasing strong public backing for the BJP-led coalition amidst a competitive political landscape.

'Congress’ ‘guroor’ is on the accelerator even though its ‘janadhar’ is on a ventilator,' says BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “Congress’ ‘guroor’ is on the accelerator even though its ‘janadhar’ is on a ventilator. They ain’t able to accept that they are in no contact with the public now. They are busy in cursing PM Modi, however, the public is busy in giving the mandate to PM Modi,”

Amruta Fadnavis applies tilak on the forehead of Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and Chandrashekhar Bawankule and performs aarti.