Maharashtra Election Results Live: Ram Kadam confident of Mahayuti's win, CM face decided

On Maharashtra exit polls, Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said, ” Thanks to voters of Maharashtra, PM Modi urged the voters to come out in large numbers and vote and they listened to him. I feel this is the votes for PM Modi’s policies…we will get an absolute majority”

#WATCH | Mumbai | Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders held a meeting before the Maharashtra Assembly election results, today

MVA leaders including Shiv Sena-UBT’s Sanjay Raut and Anil Desai, NCP-SCP leader Jayant Patil and Congress’s Balasaheb Thorat took part in the meeting pic.twitter.com/26C0C0uvhi

— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2024

“The way BJP leader was held distributing money, so, was it note jihad?…Due to fear of losing BJP trying to win elections by distributing money and liquor in Maharashtra…Was it note jihad that Tawde was doing? Was it liquor jihad that Wankhede was doing? …” Nana Patole said.

State Congress chief Nana Patole expressed confidence that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will come to power in Maharashtra, claiming the government will be formed on November 25.

#WATCH | On Maharashtra elections, state Congress chief Nana Patole says, “It is clear that Maha Vikas Aghadi will come to power and we will form the government on 25th November. We will make sure what happened in Haryana does not happen in Maharashtra…The youth, women and the… pic.twitter.com/N7F46PbSeb

— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2024

In Pune’s Parvati Constituency, a poster congratulating Ashwini Kadam for her anticipated victory has appeared in the Saras Bagh area, fuelling speculation about her desire to secure her position as an MLA.

Kadam, the candidate from the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for the Parvati seat, was nominated again despite her defeat in the previous election, where she lost by a significant margin of 35,000 votes.

Congress leader Udit Raj alleged that the BJP can only win elections through manipulation and the misuse of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

He cited an incident in the Karhal Assembly constituency during the Uttar Pradesh elections, where voters were reportedly denied the opportunity to vote. Raj accused the BJP of using manipulation to secure victories and pointed to their role in dissolving the government in Maharashtra and purchasing MLAs to form a new one.

He further claimed that the BJP has access to internal exit polls, as they are responsible for manipulating the votes, particularly in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024.

Congress leader Tariq Anwar stated that if the Maha Vikas Aghadi is in a position to form the government after the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 results, the Chief Minister’s candidate will be decided through a meeting.

He emphasised that there is no dispute or controversy regarding the CM post.

BJP candidate Ram Kadam assured that the BJP-led Mahayuti will form the government in Maharashtra with a clear majority following the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024.

He stated that there was no close competition in the assembly polls. Speaking about the Maha Vikas Aghadi, Kadam accused the alliance of misleading voters to secure their support, referring to it as the “Maha Vasooli Aghadi.”

He also clarified that the Mahayuti has already decided on the candidate for the Chief Minister’s position.

Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde highlighted that the party’s campaign for the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 focused on development and welfare schemes.

He claimed that during the Lok Sabha elections, the opposition attempted to mislead the public and create fear among Muslim and Buddhist communities. Shinde emphasised that in the Assembly elections, voters were driven solely by the agenda of development.

#WATCH | Mumbai | Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde says, “Our campaign was development-oriented and about welfare schemes…During Lok Sabha elections, an attempt was made (by opposition) to mislead people, and scare Muslim and Buddhist communities… In Assembly elections, people… pic.twitter.com/rCJpzCPKSB

— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2024

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut dismissed Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole’s reported remarks suggesting the formation of a Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state.

Raut emphasised that such decisions require collective discussions within the alliance and questioned whether Patole’s statement had the approval of the Congress high command.

Earlier, Patole had asserted that Congress would lead the MVA government, citing voting trends and public sentiment as supporting factors.

Mumbai police have imposed restrictions around 36 counting centres in the city, prohibiting gatherings within a 300-meter radius. The directive, effective from November 21 to 24, excludes election officials and public servants on duty.

This comes ahead of the Maharashtra assembly election 2024 vote counting scheduled for Saturday (November 23), following the polls held on Wednesday November 20.

Congress leader Amit Deshmukh expressed confidence that the party would win all seats in Latur, citing strong public support for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Highlighting high voter turnout (for Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024) as a vote for change, he predicted the formation of an MVA government in Maharashtra.

Several Bollywood celebrities, including actors Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ranbir Kapoor, cast their votes in Mumbai on Wednesday (November 20) in the Maharashtra assembly elections 2024, adding a touch of glamour to the festival of democracy.

Among the early voters in Mumbai were actors Akshay Kumar, Rajkumar Rao, actor-director Farhan Akthar, his director-producer sister Zoya Akthar, veteran actor Shubha Khote and her daughter Bhavana Balsavar.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh asserted that double-engine governments will be formed in both Jharkhand and Maharashtra where Assembly elections were held on Wednesday (November 20).

Singh, Union Textiles minister, was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a road show event in the run-up to the global textile expo in New Delhi in February 2025.

Asked about the exit poll predictions in the two states, he said “If you remember what the exit polls had predicted about Haryana assembly polls earlier this year, we don’t believe in exit polls.” Asserting that the BJP will come to power in Jharkhand, he said, “When the government is formed in Jharkhand, Bangladeshi infiltrators will be driven out.” “When BJP forms government in West Bengal the same thing will happen to Rohingyas and Bangladeshis here,” Singh said.

Pathardi MLA and BJP candidate Monica Rajale was subject to stone pelting in Ahmednagar on Wednesday, the day of voting for the Maharashtra assembly elections. The incident took place at a polling station at Shirsatwadi.

To escape from the aggressive crowd, Rajale reportedly locked herself in the polling station room along with the workers. Sub-Divisional Officer Sunil Patil rescued Rajale, who was trapped in the polling station for two hours, by taking a large police force.

Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, stated that exit polls (for Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024) indicate strong public support for the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra. He credited the alliance’s performance, Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, and their future commitments outlined in the Sankalp Patra as reasons for the continued trust shown by voters.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey refrained from questioning exit poll predictions for the Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024 but expressed strong confidence in a Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) victory. He stated that the MVA government would secure a full majority, leaving it to the public to interpret the reliability of the exit polls.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve dismissed exit poll predictions (for Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024) favoring the Mahayuti alliance, asserting that ground realities indicate a clear majority for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). He stated that public sentiment is against the Mahayuti government, with voters determined to bring about change in Maharashtra.

Maharashtra State Minister Deepak Kesarkar expressed confidence that the Mahayuti alliance would win over 160 seats (in Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024), with 10-15 independents likely to join. He credited the leadership of CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar for their extensive efforts and welfare measures, which he believes had a significant impact across Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Minister and NCP candidate from Yeola, Chhagan Bhujbal, responded to exit poll predictions (for Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024) by expressing confidence in a Mahayuti victory. He credited the alliance’s implementation of numerous schemes over the last six months and its success in countering false narratives. Bhujbal asserted that a 100% Mahayuti government would be formed in Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis credited the increased voter turnout in the state assembly elections to “pro-incumbency” and the strong “affinity” voters felt toward the Mahayuti government.

Fadnavis expressed confidence that the rise in voter participation would benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, ensuring the Mahayuti alliance forms the next government.

The provisional voter turnout for the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024, held on Wednesday (November 20), stood at an estimated 65%, surpassing the 61.74% recorded in the 2019 elections, according to election officials.

Police have registered a case against around 40 individuals for allegedly vandalizing three polling booths and damaging electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Ghatnandur, Beed district, during the assembly election voting on November 20, officials reported to PTI.

The attackers, armed with wooden sticks and sharp weapons, also injured several police personnel. The incidents occurred in the Parli assembly constituency, with the case filed at the Ambajogai Rural police station, located about 220 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

Shaina NC, Shiv Sena’s candidate from the Mumbadevi constituency, remarked that exit polls should not be equated with “exact polls,” referencing discrepancies seen during this year’s Lok Sabha and Haryana elections.

Despite this, she expressed confidence, stating that the public sentiment favours the leadership of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. Exit polls have indeed suggested an edge for the BJP and its allies in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024.

Reacting to exit polls for the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024, NCP-SCP leader Clyde Crasto expressed scepticism, citing past discrepancies like those in Haryana. Crasto emphasized that the ground reality often differs from exit poll predictions, stating that the contest appears evenly matched but with an edge for his alliance. He urged patience, saying that people have voted, and one should wait for November 23 to see the final results.

Police have filed a case against Ankush Kadam, a candidate from the Maharashtra Swarajya Party, on charges of attempt to murder following an alleged attack on a businessman in Navi Mumbai during the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Kadam, along with 35 supporters, reportedly attacked the victim and another person at the victim’s office in the Koparkhairne area on Wednesday afternoon. The motive behind the assault is still unclear. Additionally, the accused is facing charges for violating the model code of conduct during the election period, according to officials at Koparkhairne police station.

Dr. Medha Kulkarni expressed optimism about the exit polls for the Maharashtra Assembly Election, noting that the results are encouraging. She mentioned that beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin Yojana have supported the government, and predicted that Mahayuti will form the government in the state once again, offering her congratulations in advance.

#WATCH | Pune: On Exit Polls of Maharashtra Assembly Election, Dr Medha Kulkarni says, “…The exit poll is encouraging…Beneficiaries of Ladki Bahin Yojana have voted for the government…Mahayuti will form the government in the state again and I congratulate for that in… pic.twitter.com/4qjiZSPA4v

— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2024

A day after the Maharashtra assembly polls, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday (November 21) claimed the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will win 160 to 165 seats out of the total 288 and provide a stable government in the state.

The Rajya Sabha member also said the MVA leaders will be meeting on Thursday, ahead of the counting of votes, which will take place on Saturday (November 23).

“We and our allies, including smaller parties like the PWP, Samajwadi Party, and the Left parties are crossing the majority mark. We are winning 160-165 seats. There will be a stable government in the state. I can say it very confidently,” Raut told reporters.

Maharashtra went to the polls on Wednesday, November 20, with several prominent Mumbai-based celebrities and business figures casting their votes. Among them was Indian businessman Anand Mahindra, who voted at the Malabar Hill constituency in the South Mumbai Lok Sabha area.

After voting, the billionaire shared a selfie on X (formerly Twitter), proudly displaying his inked finger, captioning it, “Our greatest personal wealth is our right to vote in the world’s largest democracy.” Following his vote, the 69-year-old took a moment to speak with the media outside his polling station, emphasizing the importance of the election.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale highlighted the significant development in Maharashtra under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, stating that the state has received over ₹10 lakh crore from the central government in the past decade. Athawale also emphasized that the decisions made by the Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar-led government over the last 2.5 years will further benefit the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, as predicted in the exit polls for the Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024.

Historically, state elections have had minimal long-term impact on stock performance, as the central government typically plays a more significant role in shaping market trends.

Much of the negative sentiment has already been priced into the equity market.

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