7.35: BJP and Shiv Sena will form government in Maharashtra
Addressing party workers, Amit Shah said, “In Maharashtra, BJP-Shiv Sena is going to form the govt once again with majority.”
In Haryana, he said, BJP has seen a 3% increase in its vote share since the last time and emerged as the largest party there. “I thank the people for this.”
5.52 pm: Amit Shah tweets about Maharashtra and Haryana results
Shah thanked people for giving BJP another opportunity to serve them.
5.45 pm: Dhiraj Deshmukh, former Congress CM’s Son, Set To Defeat NOTA In Latur Rural
Congress candidate Dhiraj Deshmukh, son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, is set to win the Latur Rural constituency by a margin of more than one lakh votes. His closest rival? NOTA.
Huffpost India’s Akshay Deshmane breaks down the result for Latur Rural here.
5.36 pm: Shiv Sena wants to remind BJP of the 50:50 formula
Addressing a press conference, Uddhav Thackeray said, “It is time to remind the BJP about the formula arrived at when BJP chief Amit Shah visited my home....we had decided on fifty-fifty formula for the alliance.”
“We agreed to contest fewer seats (than the BJP), but I cannot accommodate the BJP every time. I should allow my party to grow,” he added, according to PTI.
5.30 pm: Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala loses from Haryana’s Kaithal
Surjewala lost to BJP’s Leela Ram by over 1,000 votes.
5.14 pm: Aaditya Thackeray wins from Worli by 67,427 votes
“I am very happy that people have blessed me with so much margin and so many votes,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.
4:36 pm: Who Will Be CM? Asks Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray
Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray says, “We will decide the alliance formula soon... we will work for the benefit of the people. We bow our heads and take lessons that this verdic has taught us.”
Thackeray also said, “Important question is who will be CM.”
While the BJP had aimed to cross the half-way mark on its own, now it will need Shiv Sena’s help to form government.
Thackeray however said, “I am not hungry for power.”
4:20 pm: Modi, Shah To Meet BJP Workers In The Evening
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to meet party workers on Thursday evening, reports ANI.
4:17 pm: Dushyant Chautala Says Future Course Of Action After Meeting With MLAs Tomorrow
3:12 pm: Congress’s Kuldeep Bishnoi Defeated TikTok Star And BJP Candidate Sonali Phogat
Senior Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi defeated BJP candidate and TikTok star Sonali Phogat from his stronghold Adampur assembly constituency in Haryana’s Hisar district.
Bishnoi, younger son of former chief minister Bhajan Lal, defeated Phogat by a margin of 29,471 votes. (PTI)
3:10 pm: Close Contest Continues In Haryana
2:47 pm: Aaditya Thackeray Set To Win From Worli
Shiv Sena scion and the first person from the Thackeray family to contest polls, Aaditya Thackeray is set for a massive win from Worli.
He is leading with 74,540 votes, while the candidate closest to him is NCP’s Suresh Mane with 16,659 votes.
2:35 pm: BJP’s Pankaja Munde Concedes Defeat From Maharashtra’s Parli
BJP leader and Maharashtra cabinet minister Pankaja Munde on Thursday conceded defeat in Parli where she was pitted against her cousin and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde.
The result of the Parli seat has not been declared yet, but Pankaja was trailing behind Dhananjay Munde by almost 30,000 votes.
“I worked for the constituency. Though I was in the government, my struggle for my constituency and people continued. I take responsibility of this defeat,” she said.
2:30 pm: In Maharashtra BJP Leading In 96 Seats, NCP Leading In 52 Seats
Official Election Commission numbers from Maharasthra show that the BJP is leading in 96 seats, Congress inn 42 seats, NCP in 52 seats and Shiv Sena in 55 seats.
The BJP has won 6 seats, Shiv Sena 5 seats, Congress 2 seats, and NCP 1 seat.
4:59 pm: Wrestler Babita Phogat Loses On BJP Ticket From Dadri
Wrestler Babita Phogat who contested from Dadri on a BJP ticket has lost against independent candidate Sombir.
She stood at third place 24,502 winning votes against Sombir’s 43,589.
1:43 pm: People Who Left Us Weren’t Accepted, Pawar’s Dig At NCP Defectors
NCP leader Sharad Pawar thanked the people of Maharashtra and party workers for his party’s success. Criticising party leaders who defected to the BJP, he said, “One important thing to see is that people who left us, have not been accepted. Defections have not worked in favour of those who left.”
He also said, “We will soon hold a meeting to discuss certain things about the elections, with our supporters and decide our future course of action. We have tried to perform to the best of our abilities.”
1:40 pm: In Haryana, Bhupinder Singh Hooda Calls For Parties To Unite
Even as Haryana headed for a hung assembly, Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that all parties in the state must unite to form a strong government.
“The time has come for Congress, JJP, INLD, and independents to come together to form a strong government,” he said.
1:20 pm: BJP-Shiv Sena Will Return To Power In Maharashtra, But Who Will Be CM?
According to official Election Commission numbers, the Shiv Sena is leading in 62 seats in Maharashtra. While the BJP had aimed to cross the half-way mark in the 288-seat assembly, it looks like it will need Shiv Sena’s help to form government.
And now the Shiv Sena has said that 50-50 formula in the state. “I am going to meet Uddhav Ji. Numbers aren’t that bad. Yes, we will definitely continue with the alliance. We have agreed upon a 50-50 formula,” Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut told ANI.
It is also likely that the Shiv Sena would arm twist the BJP into giving it the chief minister position, if that works out, Aaditya Thackeray could become the youngest chief minister of the state.
12:45 pm: Why Sharad Pawar Is Responsible For The Dip In BJP Numbers
With the NCP surging ahead of the Congress, it is likely Sharad Pawar is likely to lead the Opposition charge in Maharashtra.
Pawar was the only leader of the opposition who had relentlessly campaigned in Maharashtra before the elections.
Read Pavan Dahat’s report.
12:28 pm: Wrestler and BJP Candidate Babita Phogat Leads In Dadri
Wrestler Babita Phogat, who is contesting on a BJP ticket from Dadri, is leading in her constituency with 13,387 votes
But close behind her is Jannayak Janta Party’s Satpal Sangwan is close behind withh 11,000 votes.
Phogat had earlier in the day said she was confident of a win.
12:02 pm: Dhananjay Munder Surges Ahead Of Cousin Pankaja In Maharashtra’s Parli
11:58 am: In Maharashtra, BJP Leading In 103 Seats, Shiv Sena In 61
Huffpost India’s Pavan Dahat reports that latest trends suggest the BJP is leading in 103 seats, Shiv Sena in 61, NCP in 52 and Congress in 41 seats. Both the MNS and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi are leading in one seat each.
11:31 am: Cong, BJP In Close Contest In Haryana, JJP Could Be Kingmaker
The Congress and the BJP are in a neck-and-neck battle in Haryana with 30 and 38 seats respectively. Early trends show that Jannayak Janta Party could play an important in forming government in Harayana. The JJP is leading in 11 seats.
Meanwhile, NDTV reported that the Congress has already reached out to the JJP, which is led by Dushyant Chautala, in a bid to form an alliance.
11:10 am NCP’s Rohit Pawar Trails In Maharashtra’s Karjat Jamkhed
NCP candidate Rohit Pawar, who is pitted against incumbent BJP MLA Ram Shinde, is leading by over 7,000 votes in Karjat Jamkhed, in Maharashtra.
Karjat Jamkhed is a BJP stronghold and the party has won from here for the past 25 years.
Read more here.
11:02 am: Pankaja Munde Trailing From Maharashtra’s Parli
10:45 am: Bhupinder Singh Hooda Leading In Haryana
Former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda is leading over his nearest BJP rival Satish Nandal by a margin of 8,505 votes.
Hooda is seeking re-election from his Garhi Sampla-Kiloi constituency in Rohtak district.
10:40 pm: BJP Surges Ahead In Both Maharashtra And Haryana, But Landslide Win Unlikely
In both Maharashtra and Haryana the BJP has more leads than the Congress, but if early leads are anything to go by, then BJP’s dreams of absolute majority may not be fulfilled today.
According to official Election Commission numbers, in Maharashtra the BJP is leading in 99 seats and the Congress in 40. The NCP is leading in 48 seats and Shiv Sena in 60 seats.
Meanwhile in Haryana, the BJP is leading in 38 seats and the Congress in 27 seats. The Jannayak Janata Party is leading in 11.
10:17 pm: No Landslide For BJP In Maharashtra?
While the BJP and exit polls had predicted a landslide win for the party in Maharashtra, early trends show otherwise.
Looks like the BJP is not going to cross the half-way mark on its own.
And all praise is going to NCP chief Sharad Pawar. He was the only Opposition leader who relentlessly campaigned against the Shiv Sena and the BJP.
9:18 am: Shiv Sena’s Aaditya Thackeray Leading From Worli
Shiv Sena’s Aaditya Thackeray, who is contesting elections for the first time, is leading from Mumbai’s Worli, ANI reported.
Aaditya, the scion of the Thackeray clan is the first from his family to actually contest an election. Read his profile here.
9:05 am No Leads For BJP In Haryana Yet
8:56 am: BJP Leads in 10 Seats Congress in 3 In Maharashtra
Official figures are in. According to the Election Commission, in Maharashtra BJP is in 10 constituencies, Shiv Sena leading in 5 constituencies, Congress leading in 3 constituencies and NCP leading in 2 constituencies.
8:45 am: Early Trends Show BJP Lead In Maharashtra And Haryana
Early trends show that the BJP is leading in both Haryana and Maharashtra, with the Congress trailing behind.
According to NDTV in Maharashtra the BJP and Shiv Sena are leading in 82 seats and the Congress and NCP are leading in 29 seats.
NDTV reports that in Haryana, the BJP is leading in 36 seats and the Congress in 144.
8:28 am: JJP Will Win In Haryana, Says Party Leader Dushyant Chautala
In Haryana, Jannayak Janata Party’s Dushyant Chautala claims that neither the BJP, nor Congress will win.
He told ANI, “Dushyant Chautala: Na BJP, na Congress 40 par karegi, satta ki chabi JJP (Jannayak Janata Party) ke haath mein hogi.”
8:15 am: Counting Begins With Postal Ballots
8:00 am: Counting Of Votes Begins
Counting of votes in Maharashtra’s 288 assembly seats and Haryana’s 90 seats began on Thursday with state chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Manohar Lal Khattar hoping to be voted back to power.
7:50 am: BJP’s Mumbai Office Is Laddoo-Ready
So many laddoos at the BJP’s Mumbai office today.
7:45 am Officials In Mumbai Prepare For Counting Of Votes
Counting of votes will begin in Maharashtra and Haryana at 8 am today. Reports suggest that while the final results are likely to come by 5 pm, we will have a clear picture of who will win by noon.
While the exit polls have predicted a landslide victory for the BJP in Maharashtra, one of the polls predicted a hung assembly in Haryana.
7:30 am: By-Poll Counting Will Take Place Today As Well
PTI reported that counting of votes will be held on Thursday for 51 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha constituencies spread across 18 states where by-elections were held two days ago.
7:25 am People Will Bless Their Daughter, Says BJP’s Babita Phogat In Haryana
Wrestler Babita Phogat, who contested from the Dadri constituency in Haryana was full of hope on the morning of counting day.
Speaking to ANI she said:
7:10 am: BJP’s Mumbai Office Read For Celebrations
If the decorations at the BJP state office in Mumbai is anything to go by, it looks like the party is all prepared for a big win.
Take a look for yourself.
7:00 am: Counting Of Votes Begin At 8 am
Counting for the assembly elections held in Maharashtra and Haryana will begin at 8 am on Thursday. The elections in the two states were held on Monday, October 21.
The results of the elections are likely to be clear by 5 pm.
The BJP, which is looking to come back to power in both Maharashtra and Haryana, has little to worry about on counting day as most exit polls have predicted a big win for the party in both the states.
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In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is likely to make an easy win for the lack of a strong Opposition in the state. The India Today-Axis My India exit polls projected that the BJP and Shiv Sena combine is likely to win 166-194 seats, while the Congress and NCP will win 70-90 seats. NDTV’s poll of polls predicted that the BJP and Shiv Sena will win 211 seats and the Congress and NCP will win 64 seats and others 13 seats.
None of the exit polls gave even one seat to the Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
The campaign in Maharashtra, where BJP wrested power from the Congress right after Modi’s landslide win in 2014, has been mired in controversies. While Raj Thackeray was leading a massive campaign against Modi a few months ahead of the elections but fell out of the limelight after he was grilled by the Enforcement Directorate for 9 hours. When he broke his silence, Raj Thackeray said at a rally, “I don’t know about the world but probably no political party in India has ever asked to be voted in the opposition. I have come to you today with an agenda and that agenda is to provide a credible opposition party to Maharashtra.” Opposition leader Sharad Pawar too was questioned by the ED.
And as Huffpost India’s Pavan Dahat had written in a profile of Fadnavis, the chief minister who was almost a nobody when he was made CM in 2014, quickly and ruthlessly succeeded in weeding out rivals within and outside his party to reach an almost unbeatable position in Maharashtra politics.
BJP’s confidence was clearly visible on polling day when one of the party’s national leaders Nitin Gadkari said, “The BJP-Sena will have a record-breaking victory and Fadnavis will be the chief minister again.”
However, Congress and NCP too refused to secede. NCP MP Supriya Sule “The Congress-NCP alliance will form the next government.”
Key candidates to look out for in the state are Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Aaditya Thackeray, who is the first from his famous family to contest an election.
In Haryana, the BJP, which won 48 seats in 201, is looking to win 75 seats out of the total 90 this time. And if exit polls are anything to go by, they are not too far from the target. Times Now predicted that the BJP will win 71 seats, the Congress 11 and others 3. NDTV’s poll of polls showed the BJP winning 66 seats and the Congress 14 seats. However, perhaps the only hope for the Opposition in the state is the India Today-Axis My India exit polls that predicted a hung parliament in the state. The poll predicted the BJP winning 32-44 seats and the Congress winning 30-42 seats.
Key candidates to watch out for include Manohar Lal Khattar from Rohtak and Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala from Kaithal.
Despite both AAP and BSP contesting these elections, it is unlikely they will be able to dent the BJP voter base in the state.