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Ahead of the Maharashtra election results, a poster in Pune depicting NCP Chief and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar as the Chief Minister was taken down. The poster, which had sparked controversy, was placed by party leader Santosh Nangare.

 

As the counting day for the state elections draws closer on November 23, this incident highlights the ongoing political drama in the state.

 

In Maharashtra, the electoral battle is largely between the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

 

The ruling Mahayuti alliance includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). On the other hand, the opposition MVA consists of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP.

 

Exit polls, released after the completion of polling, indicate that the ruling BJP-led alliance, Mahayuti, is likely to retain power. Most of the exit polls suggest that Mahayuti is on track to win between 137 to 157 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

 

Meanwhile, the opposition MVA is expected to secure 126 to 147 seats. While the MVA is predicted to put up a strong fight, it is unlikely to cross the majority threshold.

 

One of the exit polls, conducted by P-MARQ, predicted Mahayuti’s victory with 137-157 seats, and the MVA securing 126-147 seats.

 

Another exit poll by Chanakya Strategies projects Mahayuti to win 152-150 seats, while MVA would secure 130-138 seats. The remaining seats, predicted to go to smaller parties and independent candidates, are expected to be between 2-8 seats.

 

In light of these predictions, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde spoke about the post-election scenario. Shinde made it clear that there was no competition within the Mahayuti alliance regarding the position of Chief Minister.

 

He stated that after the election results, the leaders of the alliance would come together to decide on the next Chief Minister. He emphasised that the focus would be on governance and development, rather than endless discussions about leadership.

 

Shinde pointed out that during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the main issue discussed was the Chief Minister's post, which did not resonate well with the public.