Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], November 23 (HBTV): Counting of votes has begun for Maharashtra's 288 assembly seats, Jharkhand’s assembly elections, and bypoll results across 15 states. Early trends are expected to emerge within the next two hours.

In Maharashtra, visuals from counting centers in Mumbai’s Mahim and Nagpur South West—where Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis is contesting against Congress’ Praful Vinodrao Gudadhe—set the stage for the state’s highly anticipated results. The elections witnessed a voter turnout of 66.05%, surpassing the 61% turnout of 2019.

The Mahayuti alliance, consisting of the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), is in a close contest with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction).

Seat distribution:

• Mahayuti Alliance: BJP contested 148 seats, Shiv Sena (Shinde) 80, NCP (Ajit Pawar) 52, and six additional candidates.
• MVA Alliance: Congress contested 102 seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) 96, NCP (Sharad Pawar) 86, and smaller allies two seats each.

Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam highlighted efforts to improve voter participation, praising the increase in turnout and the successful management of voting logistics across the state.

In Jharkhand, where 81 assembly seats were contested, the first phase of polling covered 43 seats on November 13. The JMM-led INDIA bloc, comprising Congress, RJD, and CPI(ML), faces the BJP-led NDA alliance, which includes AJSU, JD(U), and LJP. The previous elections saw the JMM win 30 seats, BJP 25, and Congress 16.

The bypolls across 48 assembly and two Lok Sabha seats in 15 states include significant contests, such as Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s electoral debut in Wayanad, Kerala. The bypolls were conducted in two phases, with key battles also playing out in Uttar Pradesh.

Results for all constituencies in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and the bypolls are expected by the end of the day.   

(ANI)