BJP-led Mahayuti to retain power in Maharashtra; Hemant Soren-led alliance all set to retain power in Jharkhand

• I.S. Saluja

November 23, 2024 updated at 5 AM (ET)

NEW YORK (TIP): Even though the election results are many hours away yet,  the trends  do give an indication of the  possible outcome. The  Assembly elections, in particular, in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, attracted keen contests. In both the States , political parties fought the elections  as the battle for survival.

At the time of writing this report (5 AM ET) , the reports coming in are placing the BJP-led Mahayuti in a comfortable position to retain power in Maharashtra. Hemant Soren-led alliance is all set to retain power in Jharkhand. Interestingly, in both the states the incumbency factor did not work. The news reports coming in suggest that the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is on course to retain power in Maharashtra, and winning nine seats so far and was leading in 217 of the 288 Assembly seats, as per the latest figures of the counting process in the November 20 elections.

After the certainty of the poll outcome, the focus has now shifted to BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, the architect of his party’s stunning victory. Political circles are abuzz with reports that the state’s second Brahmin to become the CM will don the post for the third time.

As per the latest figures from the Election Commission, the BJP has so far won nine seats and is leading in 125, the Shiv Sena has won three and is ahead in 53 seats, while the NCP has won two and is leading in 37 seats.

In the MVA, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidates were leading in 11 seats, Congress in 20 and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) in 19 seats.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has suffered a crushing defeat, with its candidates leading in just 50 seats, a far cry from the boasts – till this morning – by many of its senior leaders that the combine will trounce the Mahayuti.

JHARKHAND ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

In Jharkhand, Hemant Soren’s JMM-led alliance was all set to retain Jharkhand as it was leading in at least 50 seats in the 81-member state Assembly on Saturday, as per the Election Commission data.

The performance of the BJP-led NDA, which was seen as confident about its prospects in the state after an aggressive campaign, was poorer than its expectations. It was leading in only 29 seats.

The BJP’s poll plank was driving out “infiltrators” from the Santhal Parganas region, but it seemed to have fallen flat in front of the ‘Adivasi’ card played by the JMM, which also sought  people’s sympathy over the arrest of Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

BENGAL BYPOLLS

In  Bengal Bypolls, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s TMC has taken a massive lead, and the party  eyes a clean sweep.

Ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidates have taken an unassailable lead in the bypolls held in the six Assembly constituencies in West Bengal, with counting underway since 8 am on Saturday.

These results are drawing significant attention, especially in light of the ongoing protests related to the RG Kar Medical College incident, which has sparked public outcry in the state.

The bypolls were held in Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, Taldangra, Sitai (SC), and Madarihat (ST), following the resignation of sitting MLAs who had secured victories in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, thus vacating their assembly seats.

These elections are seen as an important political test for the state’s ruling party.

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