Voting for the assembly elections in politically significant Maharashtra and Jharkhand took place on Wednesday, November 20, setting the stage for exit polls that will provide a glimpse into the electoral outcomes. These elections are seen as a litmus test for the popularity of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its regional allies, as well as the opposition alliances striving for a comeback.
In Maharashtra, over 9.7 crore voters were eligible to cast their ballots across 288 constituencies to decide the fate of 4,136 candidates. Voting began at 7 AM and continued until 6 PM. The results will be declared on November 23.
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP (149 seats), Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction, 81 seats), and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction (59 seats), aimed to retain power in the state. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes Congress (101 seats), Shiv Sena (UBT, 95 seats), and Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction (86 seats), is fighting for a strong comeback. Smaller parties, such as the BSP and AIMIM, also entered the contest, with BSP fielding 237 candidates and AIMIM 17.
The election campaigns saw high-profile rallies by leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and others. Key campaign issues included welfare schemes like Majhi Ladki Bahin, caste-based census demands, and social justice. The opposition accused the BJP of promoting religious polarization, while Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar sought to distance himself from controversial slogans raised during the campaign.
In Jharkhand, polling also concluded for 38 assembly constituencies in the second and final phase of elections. Voting was held from 7 AM to 5 PM in 14,218 booths across 12 districts under tight security arrangements.
Exit polls for both Maharashtra and Jharkhand are expected to be released later in the evening. Major news channels and online platforms will broadcast these projections immediately after polling ends. Citizens can tune into networks like Aaj Tak, NDTV, Republic TV, and India Today, or follow live updates on digital platforms and social media for the latest insights into the potential outcomes.
The exit polls will set the tone for the final results on November 23, giving political parties and analysts an early indication of voter preferences in these key states.