As voting concluded for the highly anticipated Maharashtra Assembly elections on Wednesday (November 20), all eyes are now on the exit poll results, which provide an early indication of who might secure the majority in the 288 assembly seats and who could become the state’s next Chief Minister. Maharashtra has witnessed a tumultuous political battle in the past, leading to splits in two of its most influential parties: the Shiv Sena (now divided into factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which has also fractured into groups led by party patriarch Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar, who allied with the BJP to gain power.
Exit Poll Projections
Several of the exit polls indicate a strong possibility of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance once again forming the government in the state:
1. Chanakya Exit Poll:
Mahayuti: 152-160 seats
Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA): 130-138 seats
2. Matrize Exit Poll:
Mahayuti: 150-170 seats
MVA: 110-130 seats
3. People’s Pulse Exit Poll:
Mahayuti: 175-195 seats
MVA: 85-112 seats
Fate of candidates sealed with 63 per cent voting
Moreover, the polling for the Maharashtra Assembly elections concluded with a voter turnout registered at 58.52 per cent. Gadchiroli district recorded the highest turnout at 63 per cent, while Mumbai City had the lowest at 49.07%. Results will be declared on November 23.
Voter turnout and polling highlights
- Statewide turnout: Maharashtra witnessed 58.52% voter participation, with a slow start improving as the day progressed.
- District comparisons: Maoist-affected Gadchiroli topped turnout figures at 69.63%, while Mumbai City recorded the lowest turnout at 49.07%.
- Polling infrastructure: 1,00,186 polling stations were set up across 52,789 locations to cater to approximately 9.7 crore eligible voters. Notably, 388 “pink booths” were exclusively managed by women staff.