Maharashtra’s assembly elections are currently underway across all 288 constituencies, with a fierce contest between the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The elections are witnessing significant political shifts and factional splits within key parties like Shiv Sena and NCP, making the contest highly competitive. Prominent candidates include Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena), Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis (BJP), Aaditya Thackeray (Shiv Sena-UBT), and Ajit Pawar (NCP-AP). Exit polls for Maharashtra will be released after voting concludes at 6:30 pm, offering an early indication of the potential state government composition.
Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the assembly elections are also in full swing, with voting happening in two phases. The second phase of voting is currently underway, and exit polls are expected to be available after 6:30 pm once voting concludes. In the first phase, voter turnout was 66.65%. Key candidates in Jharkhand include the current CM Hemant Soren (JMM), along with prominent BJP leaders like Babulal Marandi, Champai Soren, and Geeta Koda. The election sees a strong contest between the Congress-JMM coalition and the BJP-led opposition, and the exit polls will provide crucial insights into which party or alliance may secure power in the state.
Voting in Jharkhand is being held at 14,218 booths across 12 districts, with polling concluding at 5 pm, except in 31 booths where it will end at 4 pm. However, voters in queues at the cutoff time will still be allowed to vote. A total of 1.23 crore voters, including 60.79 lakh women and 147 third-gender electors, are eligible to vote. 528 candidates, including CM Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren, and BJP’s Amar Kumar Bauri, are contesting in the second phase of the elections.
