The high-octane elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand will conclude soon with all eyes on the exit polls.
Jharkhand voted in two phases while polls in Maharashtra were held in one phase. The results of these elections will be declared on November 23.
While Jharkhand recorded a voter turnout of 61.47 per cent in the second phase of polling, Maharashtra registered 45.53 per cent till 3 pm.
The key battle in Maharashtra is between the two biggest alliances in the state – Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi in the 288 assembly seats. The BJP-led Mahayuti is hoping to retain its governance in the state while the Opposition alliance MVA is eyeing to hold its ground back. The elections saw a neck-to-neck fight between several key candidates like Ajit Pawar, Aaditya Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.
Catch all the live updates on Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections
here
Since 2019, India’s third-largest state saw its government change at least twice with Ajit Pawar defecting to BJP only to join back NCP within a few days. Next came Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who left Shiv Sena in 2022 and formed the Mahayuti alliance with BJP. Pawar once again left NCP in 2023 to join the Mahayuti.
Several issues have come to the fore this election season in Maharashtra with a special focus on ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’ launched by the Eknath Shinde-led government inspired by Madhya Pradesh’s ‘Ladli Behen’ scheme.
Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the fight is between the BJP-NDA and INDIA bloc’s Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. The two alliances are contesting for the 38 assembly constituencies with 528 candidates in the fray. Prominent candidates include Hemant Sore, his wife Kalpana Soren and his sister-in-law Sita Soren.
This is also the first state election since Soren walked out of jail in June. His party JMM suffered a big jolt soon after Champai Soren, the leader Hemant had appointed as the Chief Minister during his absence, joined the BJP.
The key issues that the people of Jharkhand voted for include corruption and infiltration with the latter being capitalized by the Opposition BJP during its campaign.
Link to article –
