Election Results 2024 Live Updates: Hemant Soren resigns as CM; stakes claim to form government

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren expressed gratitude to his supporters while urging them to gift books instead of flower bouquets during congratulatory meetings.

Supriya Sule vows to rebuild NCP (SP) with renewed commitment

Senior NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule said on Sunday that her party, which won 10 seats in the Maharashtra assembly elections, respects people's mandate and pledged to work towards a capable, inclusive and progressive state.

In a statement on X, the Baramati MP promised to rebuild their party and said it would move forward with determination despite its dismal show. Her party and its Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) collectively bagged only 46 of the state's 288 assembly seats.

"We respect and humbly accept the verdict of the people in the assembly elections. This result is a moment for deep reflection and renewal. We will introspect, learn, and rebuild with honesty, hard work, and an unshakable commitment to the values we stand for," Sule wrote.

She stressed that her party was committed to creating a capable, inclusive, and progressive Maharashtra.

RPI should get a ministerial post in Maharashtra government: Ramdas Athawale

Union minister and Republic Party of India (Athawale) President Ramdas Athawale on Sunday called for a ministerial post for his party in the newly formed Maharashtra government, citing the significant support the Mahayuti alliance received from Dalit voters in the state polls.

Athawale, who currently serves as the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre, emphasized the importance of RPI's inclusion in the state cabinet.

"Earlier, we had also requested a ministerial post for RPI. This time, Mahayuti has garnered a majority of Dalit votes, which is why I believe RPI should be given a ministerial role. Our community shares this expectation. Providing a ministerial post to RPI would further strengthen Mahayuti’s position," Athawale said in an interview with ANI.

Following the BJP's resounding victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections, BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut attributed the Maha Vikas Aghadi's defeat to their alleged disrespect towards women, citing the 2020 demolition of her bungalow as evidence. She praised Prime Minister Modi's leadership and the people's desire for a stable government.

Mahayuti leaders, BJP parliamentary board to decide on next Maharashtra CM: Bawankule

Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Sunday said leaders of the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the BJP leadership will decide who will be the next chief minister of the state.

Addressing a press conference here, Bawankule said all sections of the society supported the BJP in the Maharashtra assembly polls and rejected the Congress. He pointed out that the Congress' state unit chief Nana Patole managed to win with a wafer thin margin of around 200 votes in Sakoli seat.

Maharashtra polls: 30 MLAs who joined Eknath Shinde in 2022 rebellion register victory; 5 suffer defeat

Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has solidified his political standing with a significant electoral win. Shinde, who led a rebellion against former CM Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022, has been credited with the victory of 30 out of the 39 legislators who joined his faction during the split.

Shinde himself secured a resounding win from the Kapri-Pachpakhadi constituency, defeating Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Kedar Dighe by a margin of over one lakh votes. His leadership extended beyond personal triumph, as 30 of his rebel legislators clinched victories in their respective constituencies.

Among the original group of 39 legislators who aligned with Shinde during the rebellion, only five lost their seats in the elections, while candidates were replaced in four constituencies.

'People will elect BJP government in Delhi too': BJP's Virendraa Sachdeva after Maharashtra election result

As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance emerged victorious in the Maharashtra assembly elections, Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva expressed confidence that people in the national capital would also elect a BJP government in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections.

As the Delhi assembly election is due in February 2025, he noted that the people of Delhi want a clean and corrupt-free Delhi.

Speaking to ANI, Virendraa Sachdeva said, "PM Modi's address fills the BJP workers of Delhi with enthusiasm. Now the time has come for the people of Delhi to give a befitting reply to those who are ruining Delhi. The people want a clean, corruption-free Delhi. After Maharashtra and Haryana, the people will elect a BJP government in Delhi too... BJP will get huge support in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections..."

Hemant Soren meets governor Jharkhand Santosh Gangwar, resigns as CM; stakes claim to form government.

INDIA bloc elects Hemant Soren as leader of alliance after massive victory in Jharkhand polls. Soren then, met the governor Jharkhand Santosh Gangwar, resigned as CM and staked claim to form government.

Congress in Jharkhand has decided to leave the nomination of its Legislature Party leader in the state assembly to its central leadership in New Delhi. This announcement came on Sunday following the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Ranchi after the electoral victory of the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) alliance.

Maharashtra, Jharkhand poll results will have far-reaching effects: KC Tyagi

Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi on Sunday said the results of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections will have significant implications for Indian politics. He asserted that the NDA and BJP’s strong performance in these polls would pose a formidable challenge to the Congress and its allies in the future.

"The Maharashtra election results will have far-reaching effects. The NDA and BJP's performance in the elections will pose a huge threat to Congress and its allies in the coming times," Tyagi told ANI. He added, "In Jharkhand, the NDA needs to work more in the tribal and protected areas."

The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections, solidifying its political dominance in the state. The alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde), and the NCP faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, claimed a commanding majority in the 288-member assembly.

The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 132 seats, while the Shiv Sena bagged 57, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction secured 41 seats.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance suffered a significant defeat. Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) managed only 20 seats, the Congress won 16, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction garnered a mere 10 seats. The results marked a major blow to the MVA's political aspirations in Maharashtra.

Congress high command to decide on legislature party leader in Jharkhand assembly: Mir

The Jharkhand Congress on Sunday said it has left the decision of nominating the leader of legislature party in the Jharkhand assembly to its central leadership in New Delhi. The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) held its meeting here after a stunning comeback of Hemant Soren's JMM-led alliance in Jharkhand for a second consecutive term. The coalition won 56 seats in the 81-member assembly, including 16 by the Congress, while the BJP-led NDA managed 24 seats.

"Today, a meeting of the CLP was convened. The party unanimously passed a resolution to authorise the high command to nominate the legislature party leader. The resolution will be sent to the party leadership," Congress general secretary and Jharkhand in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir told reporters.

He said a detailed discussion was held by Congress legislators, and 14 out of the 16 MLAs were present in the meeting.

Chandgad's newly elected independent MLA Shivaji Patil had close shave after vermilion (Gulal) caught fire coming into contact with Aukshan Thali having diya. The video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

'We accepted defeat in Jharkhand, they are blaming EVMs': BJP's Kirit Somaiya

BJP's Kirit Somaiya criticised Maharashtra's opposition for attributing their electoral defeat to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

In his statement to ANI, Somaiya said, "Nana Patole, Ramesh Chennithala, Sanjay Raut and Uddhav Thackeray are blaming EVMs. At the time of the Lok Sabha elections, the same EVMs were used. They did not blame the EVMs at that time. We have accepted our defeat in Jharkhand. When we won in Maharashtra, they are blaming and making excuses."

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari pointed out that the identical EVMs were utilised in Jharkhand, where the INDIA alliance emerged victorious, dismissing claims about EVM manipulation.

People of Maharashtra have rejected Congress, its Maharashtra unit chief won with margin of just 200 votes: Chandrashekhar Bawankule

Jharkhand: Hemant Soren set to stake claim to form govt, will reach Raj Bhavan by 4 pm

Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren is set to visit Raj Bhavan at 4pm on Sunday to submit his resignation and stake a claim to form the government again following the INDIA bloc's decisive victory in the state assembly elections.

Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) led the INDIA bloc to a commanding win, securing 56 out of the 81 seats in the assembly. The JMM emerged as the largest party with 34 seats, while its allies contributed significantly to the victory. The Congress won 16 seats, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) claimed four, and the CPI-ML secured two.

In contrast, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) managed to win only 24 seats. The BJP won 21, while its allies—the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and Janata Dal-United (JD-U)—secured one seat each.

The results reaffirm Soren's leadership and the INDIA bloc's stronghold in the state.

Ex-CJI Chandrachud removed fear of law from political defectors, claims Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday criticized former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, accusing him of enabling political defections in Maharashtra by delaying decisions on disqualification petitions. Raut alleged that Chandrachud's inaction effectively "removed the fear of the law" from politicians who switched parties, leaving the doors open for defections.

Raut's remarks came in the wake of his party's dismal performance in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The Shiv Sena (UBT), contesting as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), secured only 20 out of the 95 seats it contested. The alliance's other partners fared no better, with the Congress winning 16 out of 101 seats and the NCP (SP) managing just 10 out of 86.

Speaking to reporters, Raut claimed, *"By not deciding on the disqualification petitions, he (Chandrachud) has emboldened defectors. His name will be written in black letters in history."* The comments reflect the growing frustration within the MVA over its electoral setback and perceived legal loopholes favoring defections.

Ajit Pawar emerges out of his uncle's shadow, retains grip in Baramati

Defying predictions of a political downfall, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has solidified his standing within the Mahayuti alliance, leading his faction of the NCP to a remarkable victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections and retaining his Baramati seat with a significant margin. Over a year after breaking away from NCP founder Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar has stepped out of his uncle’s shadow, securing his place as a key player in state politics.

At 65, Ajit Pawar, a veteran leader who has served as Deputy Chief Minister under multiple governments, has never hidden his ambition to become Chief Minister. Yet, that goal continues to elude him.

Earlier this year, his political judgment was questioned when he fielded his wife, Sunetra Pawar, against his cousin and Sharad Pawar's daughter, Supriya Sule, in the Baramati Lok Sabha election. Sunetra lost the contest, prompting Ajit Pawar to later admit that the decision to pit her against Sule was a mistake.

Despite this setback, Ajit Pawar has demonstrated his enduring influence in Baramati, a family stronghold, successfully retaining the assembly constituency even as Sharad Pawar campaigned vigorously against him. This victory marks another chapter in Ajit Pawar’s journey to cement his legacy in Maharashtra politics.

Maha reality: BJP decimates Congress in 65/75 direct contests

While the electoral battle was primarily a Mahayuti versus Maha Vikas Aghadi contest, it was the head-to head fights between BJP and Congress in 75 constituencies that shaped the larger outcome. BJP emerged victorious in 65 seats of these, leaving Congress with a mere 10.

The assembly elections, following months after the LS polls in which Congress staged a comeback, winning 17 of 48 seats — its best performance in a decade, has seen the BJP make a stunning recovery. It has clinched 132 of the 288 assembly seats, its highest-ever tally in Maharashtra, surpassing its previous records of 122 in 2014 and 105 in 2019. In stark contrast, Congress plummeted to its worst-ever performance, winning only 15, a steep decline from 44 in 2019 and 42 in 2014.

BJP’s triumph can be attributed to a coordinated campaign in which its state and central leadership worked in tandem. While deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and state party president Chandrashekar Bawankule worked across various regions, providing support to every candidate, seasoned campaigners like Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and Yogi Adityanath provided the necessary impetus to counter anti-incumbency.

Parliamentary board will decide CM face, says BJP's Ashishrao Deshmukh

BJP's winning candidate from the Savner Assembly seat Ashishrao Deshmukh says, " The people of Maharashtra are standing with BJP...We have got unprecedented results in the state. The parliamentary board will decide the CM's face. If we talk about the workers of BJP, they are in favour of making Devendra Fadnavis the Chief Minister...We expect the CM face to be from BJP..."

'Electoral system defective': Samajwadi Party leader raises questions on EVMs after Maharashtra, UP poll results

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader ST Hasan criticized the "defective" electoral system expressed distrust in the Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs) after the BJP-led NDA after landslide victory in Maharashtra assembly elections and Uttar Pradesh bypolls.

The SP leader said that the Maharashtra assembly elections were "unexpected" and alleged that the police and administration were influential to the Samajwadi party voters in the Uttar Pradesh bypolls.

Speaking to ANI, Hasan said, "We have been saying this since the past five years that our electoral system is 'defective.' We do not trust the EVMs and when I was in the parliament, we (SP) proposed that to ensure greater transparency both EVMs and ballot boxes should be counted, and that VVPAT slips should be handed to voters and placed in the ballot box."

Maharashtra polls: Mixed results for netas and betas as families try to keep legacies alive

Though NCP's Nawab Malik, a veteran of many elections, lost from the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar assembly constituency against incumbent SP MLA Abu Asim Azmi, he got a face-saver in daughter Sana's victory from Anushakti Nagar, a seat he represented in 2019 and 2009. Sana won with a margin of 3,378 votes against NCP (SP) nominee Fahad Ahmad, actor Swara Bhaskar's husband. Bhaskar and Ahmad blamed the EVM for his loss. Sana's margin of victory was slender also because the MNS candidate, Acharya Vidyadhar, received 28,362 votes.

Mixed emotions marked the mood at the Naik household, too, with former minister and six-time MLA Ganesh Naik of BJP securing victory from Airoli, while his son Sandeep, who was BJP's Navi Mumbai chief but defected to NCP(SP) after being denied a party ticket, losing Belapur seat to BJP's incumbent MLA Manda Mhatre by 377 votes.

Rahul's Adani-centric poll campaign fails to move voters in Maharashtra

In the run-up to Maharashtra elections, Gautam Adani's link to the BJP-led coalition at the Centre and in the state was a key theme, whether it was the award of Dharavi redevelopment project or Rahul Gandhi's jibe at BJP's 'ek hain to safe hain' slogan by dragging the businessman into the picture.

Be it Uddhav Thackeray's reference to 'Adani ki sultani' or the Gandhi scion and his sister Priyanka's claims that BJP toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi govt to favour the ports-to-power conglomerate, Adani was in focus for the alliance. Sharad Pawar was the only one who had sought to soften the attack on Adani.

Maharashtra polls: Clerics confused minorities, multiple candidates split votes

Muslims have a sizeable presence in 31 of the 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra. They and other minorities helped the opposition Mahavikas Agahadi (MVA) win big in the Lok Sabha polls in May. But a combination of reduced enthusiasm and split votes, along with communal polarisation, seems to have sent some of those same constituencies to the governing BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.

MVA, which includes Congress and Sharad Pawar's NCP, lost seats in Chandivali and Anushakti Nagar in Mumbai, as well as Bhiwandi West, Solapur Central, and Dhule - all constituencies with more than 20% Muslim population.

2 Mahayuti 'rebel rousers' win, 2 scuttle allies' hopes

Only two of more than 70 rebels across Maharashtra, who threw their hats into the electoral ring as independents after being sidelined for nominations, managed to secure victories. In Akola West and Partur constituencies, the rebels dented the chances of alliance candidates by polling votes more than the winning margin, assembly election results declared on Saturday show.

Sharad Sonawane, who was in the race for a Shiv Sena ticket, defeated NCP(SP)'s Satyahseel Sherkar in Junnar by 6,664 votes. Mahayuti nominee and sitting MLA Atul Benke (NCP) managed to get third spot. Similarly, BJP rebel Shivaji Patil trounced NCP's Rajesh Narsingrao Patil by 24,134 votes to bag Chandgad. Both the constituencies were allocated to deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's faction, which resulted in rebellion within Mahayuti.

Jharkhand shows no fear of ‘infiltrators’

An aggressive BJP campaign that hinged on “infiltration” of illegals from Bangladesh changing the Jharkhand’s demography and corruption by the JMM-led state govt didn’t see a buy in from voters in the state as the INDIA bloc, with CM Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana leading the charge, swept to victory on Saturday in the assembly elections.

The JMM-led INDIA bloc won 56 seats in the 81-member assembly. In the face of a BJP blitz led by Union home minister Amit Shah, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and UP CM Yogi Adityanath – besides PM Modi, who held five campaign rallies and a roadshow – JMM did not just hold its own but gained in vote share from 18% in 2019 to 23%. JMM also notched up its best electoral performance, winning 34 of the 43 seats it contested. Soren, who was arrested by ED in a corruption case, also appeared to have got the sympathy factor working for him.

BJP, which contested 68 seats, held on to its vote share (33%) but lost four seats from its 2019 tally. Though down to 21, it’s the second-largest party in the state. Defying talk of being the weak link in the INDIA bloc, Congress matched its 2019 show by winning 16 of the 30 seats it contested.

A telling verdict on the campaign from the tribal bastion of Santhal Pargana, where the INDIA bloc won 17 of 18 seats – JMM 11, Congress 4 and RJD 2 – while BJP managed slipped from four it had in the region in 2019 to the lone seat of Jarmundi. The INDIA bloc also routed BJP in the state’s 28 ST seats, winning 27 (JMM 21, Congress 6). Former CM Champai Soren won the only ST seat (Serai kela) that went to NDA.

Sarma campaigned extensively here, blaming JMM for tribal land changing hands over decades, which BJP alleged was changing the demography of the area.

'People will elect BJP government in Delhi too': BJP's Virendraa Sachdeva after Maharashtra election result

As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance emerged victorious in the Maharashtra assembly elections, Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva expressed confidence that people in the national capital would also elect a BJP government in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections.

As the Delhi assembly election is due in February 2025, he noted that the people of Delhi want a clean and corrupt-free Delhi.

Speaking to ANI, Virendraa Sachdeva said, "PM Modi's address fills the BJP workers of Delhi with enthusiasm. Now the time has come for the people of Delhi to give a befitting reply to those who are ruining Delhi. The people want a clean, corruption-free Delhi. After Maharashtra and Haryana, the people will elect a BJP government in Delhi too... BJP will get huge support in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections..."

Notably, the ruling Mahayuti alliance won the Maharashtra assembly polls and is poised for a landslide mandate. BJP led the Mahayuti alliance to a smashing victory, carrying its allies--Shiv Sena and NCP--with its momentum.

"Credit to PM Modi for revolutionary schemes for people's welfare": Jitendra Singh Mahayuti's victory in Maharashtra

As the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance won the assembly election in Maharashtra, Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi behind the results and stated that the Prime Minister won the 'trust' of the people.

Speaking to media persons in Jammu, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, "While I want to thank the people of Maharashtra, I want to give credit to PM Narendra Modi for his revolutionary schemes for the welfare of people... He won the trust of the people of Maharashtra; that is why they voted for us."

Notably, the ruling Mahayuti alliance won the Maharashtra assembly poll. BJP-led Mahayuti alliance registered a smashing victory, carrying its allies--Shiv Sena and NCP--with its momentum.

The BJP has won 132 seats; Shiv Sena, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has won 57 seats, and the NCP, led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, won 41 seats. The state has 288 assembly seats.

The constituents of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a rude jolt with Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray winning 20 seats, Congress 16, and NCP (SCP) led by Sharad Pawar only 10 seats.

Hoping to wrest Jharkhand from the Hemant Soren-led JMM govt, the BJP went to the polls with a strong strategy of showcasing cases of poor tribals losing their land to Bangladeshi land grabbers, in a move that eventually backfired with the entire campaign getting lost in translation on ground.

And the result was JMM in its bastion of Santhal Pargana clinched all 18, but one seat with the help of its partners BJP got reduced from four seats in 2019 to one this time while the JMM bagged 11, Congress four and RJD two. Devendra Kunwar is the only BJP man in Santhal's Jarmundi seat.

The idea was to examine how much of tribal land had changed hands from tribals over the past few decades and star BJP campaigner Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighting how JMM was becoming a stumbling block.

Time stood still at Bhigwan Chowk, Baramati's political epicentre, as the clock — the poll symbol of Ajit Pawar's NCP — ticked its way to an inevitable victory. By noon, the square was bathed in pink, resonating with deafening drums, swirling flower petals and roaring bike rallies.Ajit Pawar's supporters had declared him the undisputed heir of Baramati. Barely 20 metres away, the silence was as stark as the loss at the NCP (SP) office, adorned with the forlorn symbol of a man blowing a trumpet. Only a solitary figure remained to lock its doors in the afternoon.

Wayanad bypolls: At 4.1 lakh, Priyanka Gandhi polls more than Rahul did in June election

Kerala's Wayanad voted Congress general secretary and electoral debutante Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to Lok Sabha on Saturday with a bypoll victory margin of over 4.1 lakh votes - 50,000-odd more than her sibling Rahul Gandhi's in June - to complete a triumvirate from the Gandhi family in Parliament for the first time.

Priyanka, an old hand in Congress campaigns but a reluctant prospect whenever her name would come up for nomination, also increased opposition UDF's vote share in the constituency to a record 64.9%. This, too, is marginally higher than LS leader of opposition Rahul's 64.6% vote share when he won Wayanad for the first time in 2019.

The victory came in the face of what Congress felt was a "surprisingly low voter turnout" of 64.7%, down from 73.5% in the last election. Priyanka's LDF rival, CPI veteran Sathyan Mokeri, polled 2.1 lakh votes, marking a dip in CM Pinarayi Vijayan-led front's vote share in Wayanad to a historic low of 22% - down 4% from losing LDF nominee Annie Raja's performance against Rahul in the election barely six months ago.

Shinde emerges as undisputed champ in Sena vs Sena duel

The Sena vs Sena fight in 51 seats has swung decisively in favour of Eknath Shinde's formation, which has won 36 of them. Among the 40 MLAs who deserted Uddhav Thackeray and went with Shinde in 2022, only a handful couldn't win this time. Clearly, the charges of being traitors to the cause haven't stuck.

Shinde's party has won 57 seats in all, improving on its leads since the LS results in which it was ahead in 40 assembly segments, indicating wider acceptance of Shinde's record in governance as CM and his credentials as an inheritor of the Sena legacy.

In Shiv Sena (UBT)'s den Mumbai where Uddhav's party fought 22 seats, it has managed to bag only 10, compared with 14 in 2019 when Sena was united. Uddhav will now face a tougher challenge in keeping his flock together, political observers feel.

What was common between Maharashtra and Jharkhand? Cash was king when it came to wooing voters. Direct transfers, under whatever name they be, Ladki Bahin in Maharashtra or Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana in Jharkhand, have helped parties ride back to power.

If PM-Kisan, BJP's belated attempt to counter NYAY, worked in its favour in the 2019 general elections, the focus was more on women with each party seeking to outdo the other. In Maharashtra, Mahayuti promised to increase the Ladki Behin allowance from Rs 1,500 a month to Rs 2,100, as JMM has in Jharkhand - from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500.

Maharashtra election results: A look at prominent winners and losers

The Mahayuti has won or leading in over 233 seats out of total 288, with the BJP alone in 132 seats, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has won or is ahead in 57 seats and NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is poised to win 41 seats. While Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a rude jolt as it was leading in just 49 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray poised to win just 20 seats, Congress 16 and NCP(SP) led by Sharad Pawar only 10 seats.

In the MVA camp, the prominent lossers are: Congress leader and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, another Congress veteran Balasaheb Thorat, a nine-time contestant and chief ministerial aspirant; Dhiraj Deshmukh, son of late Congress CM Vilasrao Deshmukh, and Ruturaj Patil, nephew of Congress strongman Satej Patil from Kolhapur South.

NCP (SCP)'s Yugendra Pawar, who is Sharad Pawar's grandnephew, and actor Swara Bhasker's husband Fahad Ahmad also bite the dust. Ahmad lost to Sana Malik, daughter of Nawab Malik in Anushakti Nagar seat. This battle was a close one with Malik winning the seat by 3 thousand votes.

However, NCP-SCP's Rohit Pawar, another grandnephew of Sharad Pawar, won his seat in Karjat Jamkhed. NCP's Ajit Pawar won the prestige battle of Baramati, where he defeated his nephew and NCP (SCP) leader Yugendra Pawar by over 1 lakh votes.

NCP candidate Zeeshan Siddique, son of murdered politician Baba Siddique, was unable to win from the Vandre east constituency, losing to Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Varun Sardesai.

Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Aditya Thackeray won the Worli seat against Shiv Sena's Milind Deora in a 'sena vs sena' battle by a margin of more than 8 thousand votes.

Congress' Amin Patil, candidate from Mumbadevi constituency won against Shiv Sena candidate Shaina NC by more than 34 thousand votes.

Congress' Kadam Patangrao won the Palus Kadegaon seat, defeating BJP's Sangram Deshmukh by a margin of 30 thousand votes.

Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sunil Rajaram Raut, younger brother of Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, retained Vikhroli constituency, defeating Shiv Sena's Suvarna Karanje in another 'sena vs sena' battle by a margin of 15 thousand votes.

Congress president Nana Patole was able to secure a win in the Sakoli seat by a thin margin of 208 votes, besting BJP's Avinash Brahmankar.

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar retained his Baramati constituency, a seat he has won since 1991. He was up against NCP (SCP)'s Yungendra Pawar, his nephew. Ajit Pawar won the seat by a decisive margin of over 1 lakh votes.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde retained his Kopri Pachpakhadi seat, the constituency he has won since 2009. Shinde won the seat by a decisive margin of more than 1.2 lakh votes. He was against Shiv Sena's (UBT) Kedar Dighe.

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis won the Nagpur South West constituency by a margin of 39 thousand votes, beating Congress' Prafulla Gudadhe

Election Results 2024 Live: Nitin Gadkari credits Ladki Bahin scheme for Mahayuti’s overwhelming win

Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari termed Mahayuti's win in Maharashtra assembly polls was beyond expectations. He credited the unprecedented victory largely to the Ladki Bahin scheme, under which women receive a dole of Rs 1,500 a month and now promised to be hiked to Rs 2,100. "It's the politics of individual benefit which worked during the current elections," Gadkari said referring to the scheme.

"When I was travelling around the state, the wave was evident, but such a massive victory is indeed beyond expectations," he said. On Ladki Bahin, he said that a scheme on these lines was started in Madhya Pradesh. It worked in Maharashtra as well. Women would enthusiastically respond when the candidates mentioned about the scheme in public meetings, he said.

"If a road is built, it leads to societal benefit. However, a grant like this comes under individual benefit. Nowadays, all political parties go for individual benefit schemes," said Gadkari.

Election Results 2024 Live: Giriraj Singh on Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly election results and bypolls

"Uttar Pradesh's bypoll results were the most exciting. In Rajasthan as well, Congress was defeated and in Maharashtra, NDA's sweeping victory shows that Uddhav Thackeray was rejected by the people and they showed him who the real Shiv Sena is... We accept the result of Jharkhand. This is the speciality of democracy," said Union minister Giriraj Singh.

Election Results 2024 Live: Defence minister Rajnath Singh tweets on PM Modi's leadership

Hemant Soren seeks parental blessings as JMM-led INDIA bloc edges closer to historic victory in Jharkhand

As the JMM-led INDIA bloc nears a historic win in the Jharkhand Assembly elections, Chief Minister Hemant Soren visited his parents on Saturday evening to seek their blessings. Accompanied by his wife and party leader Kalpana Soren, the Chief Minister arrived at the residence of JMM national president Shibu Soren in Ranchi.

In an interaction with ANI, Soren expressed his gratitude, saying, "Mata-Pita ka aashirwad sar pe rehna chahiye... Today I have taken the blessings of my parents."

Earlier, Kalpana Soren celebrated with party workers in Giridih, as the JMM-led alliance took a commanding lead in the state. The JMM-led INDIA bloc is currently leading in over 50 seats of the 81-member state assembly, with the BJP-led NDA trailing in 26 constituencies.

JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya expressed his delight, stating, "I am delighted that we are moving forward on the issues we had taken up... There is only one slogan, 'Ek hi naara, Hemant dobara'... I will say this to the BJP let the local leaders stay in the local place. The outsiders from Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Delhi, their infiltration should be stopped."

This marks a historic moment for Jharkhand, as the JMM-led coalition secures a majority, with JMM winning 34 seats and its allies—Congress (16), RJD (4), and CPI(ML) (2)—poised to win a total of 56 seats. This is the first time since the creation of Jharkhand in 2000 that a party or alliance has won a second consecutive term after five years in power.

In contrast, the opposition BJP has secured 21 seats, with its allies AJSU Party, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and JD(U) winning one seat each.

Hemant Soren, who retained the Barhait seat by a significant margin of 39,791 votes, is set to return as Chief Minister of Jharkhand. He defeated BJP’s Gamliyel Hembrom, securing 95,612 votes compared to Hembrom’s 55,821.

Expressing his gratitude, Soren thanked the people of Jharkhand for their overwhelming participation in the elections. "I want to thank the people of all communities, the farmers, women, and youth of the state for casting their votes in large numbers and making this election successful," he said.

"People of Jharkhand rejected BJP's deceit," says Kejriwal on JMM's resounding win

Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday congratulated Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren after the JMM coalition registered a huge victory in the Jharkhand assembly elections, and said the people rejected the "deceit" of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
"The people of Jharkhand have once again expressed their faith in Shri @HemantSorenJMM

ji. Congratulations to Hemant Ji and all his workers for this magnificent victory. The people of Jharkhand rejected the deceit of the BJP and once again the Constitution, tribal honour and the people have won in Jharkhand," Kejriwal wrote on X.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi also extended wishes to Hemant Soren and said this is the victory of "tribal identity" adding that the people have given the message that democracy always wins.

Maharashtra: Results of 280 of 288 seats declared; BJP wins 128, ahead in 4, Shiv Sena wins 56, ahead in 1, NCP wins 40, ahead in 1.

We passed exam of democracy in Jharkhand: CM Hemant Soren

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday expressed gratitude to people of the state for INDIA bloc's stellar performance in the assembly polls, asserting that it passed the exam of democracy. The coalition comprising the JMM, Congress, RJD and CPIM(L) Liberation won 56 out of the 81 seats.
Soren won from the Barhait seat by a margin of 39,791 votes, defeating BJP's Gamliyel Hembrom.

"We have passed the exam of democracy in Jharkhand; we will finalise our strategy after the election results," Soren said at a press conference here.

"I express my gratitude to the people for this stupendous performance," he said.

Meanwhile, AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir said "Soren is the CM of Jharkhand and will continue to remain so".

Later in a video message, Soren said: "Let's resolve to remove Jharkhand's 'backward' tag and try to make it developed. We solicit peoples' suggestions for improving industry, education and agriculture."

He also asserted that the coalition will transform "our state into a 'golden Jharkhand' with 'Abua Raj' (self-governance)".

Congress hails Jharkhand victory, questions Maharashtra results

Congress leader Pawan Khera on Saturday expressed delight over the Jharkhand Assembly election results, calling it a rejection of divisive politics.

"In Jharkhand, we have won, and divisive politics has been defeated. The people of Jharkhand have rejected the NDA. We are very happy with this mandate," Khera said in a press statement.

While celebrating the win in Jharkhand, Khera raised doubts about the BJP-led NDA's landslide victory in Maharashtra, terming the results "unbelievable."

He also highlighted the importance of the INDIA alliance's growing presence in Parliament. "We are happy that in Parliament there will be a strong voice from the INDIA alliance side," Khera said.

The Congress, a key player in the INDIA bloc, views the Jharkhand outcome as a reaffirmation of its strategy while grappling with challenges in other states.

Jharkhand final tally: JMM-led coalition wins 56 seats in 81-member assembly, NDA secures 24, JLKM bags one.

PM Modi slams Congress as 'parasitic party,' criticizes Waqf Law as 'appeasement politics'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing BJP workers at the party headquarters, labeled the Congress as a "parasitic party" that has increasingly relied on alliances for survival rather than forming governments independently.

"Congress has become a parasitic party. It is increasingly difficult for them to form a government on their own," PM Modi stated, underscoring the diminishing influence of the party across the country.

The Prime Minister also criticized Congress for its alleged appeasement politics, citing the Waqf Board as an example. "The Waqf Board is a glaring example of Congress' appeasement politics. There is no place for the Waqf law in the Constitution," he said, adding that such practices have alienated the party from the sentiments of the people.

PM Modi's remarks come in the wake of BJP's decisive victories in Maharashtra and other states, reinforcing the party's emphasis on development and nationalism while targeting the opposition's ideological and governance approaches.

PM Modi criticizes Congress' double standards, highlights Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing BJP workers at the party headquarters, launched a scathing attack on Congress, accusing the party of disrespecting national icons like Balasaheb Thackeray and Veer Savarkar while prioritizing its political ambitions over the welfare of the country.

"We all know Balasaheb Thackeray's immense contribution to society. Yet, despite Congress forming an alliance with a faction of his party, they have never praised his policies. I challenged Congress' allies to get the grand old party to honor Balasaheb's legacy, but they failed," PM Modi said. He also criticized Congress for consistently insulting Veer Savarkar.

Targeting Congress further, PM Modi stated, "Congress' only priority is its family, not the countrymen. A party that puts family over the people is dangerous for democracy. Congress cannot stay without power and will go to any extent to secure it."

He accused Congress of divisive politics, saying, "Whenever they are in the south, they insult the north, and vice versa. On foreign soil, they criticize the nation. This double-faced approach is harmful to India's integrity."

The prime minister's remarks come amid celebrations of the BJP's victory in Maharashtra and other states, reinforcing the party's focus on governance and nationalism over political alliances.

Soren seeks public input for progress after Jharkhand assembly poll win

Chief minister Hemant Soren, in a video message following the Jharkhand assembly poll results, called on citizens to share their suggestions for advancing the state's industries, education, and agriculture.

"We have achieved this victory together. Now, I want to hear from you about how we can make Jharkhand better," Soren said, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to address key challenges and boost development.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led coalition retained power in the state, with Soren reaffirming his commitment to inclusive governance and sustainable progress. He urged citizens to actively participate in shaping policies for the state's growth.

PM Modi: Maharashtra to progress with 'vikas bhi, virasat bhi' mantra, nation rejects instability

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the global recognition of India's culture and its alignment with the nation's respect for its heritage. Speaking at the BJP headquarters following the party's triumph in Maharashtra and bypoll victories, Modi said, "The entire world respects our culture today because we respect it now."

He outlined Maharashtra's future under the BJP-led NDA, stating, "In the next five years, Maharashtra will move ahead with the mantra of 'vikas bhi virasat bhi' (development with heritage)."

Criticizing the opposition bloc, Modi asserted, "The INDI alliance has failed to accept reality. The country's voters don't want instability and are with those who support the mantra of 'nation first'."

His remarks come as the BJP solidifies its position with notable victories across states, highlighting voter trust in its governance model.

PM Modi: Voters back ‘nation first’, reject ‘kursi first’ politics of INDIA bloc

Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the INDIA alliance, asserting that voters have rejected its approach of prioritizing power over the nation. Addressing BJP workers at the party headquarters, Modi said, "The people are with those who put 'nation first,' not with those putting 'kursi first'."

He added that the opposition bloc has failed to grasp the country's sentiment. "The INDIA alliance is unable to understand the mood of the nation, which is firmly focused on development and progress," Modi remarked.

The Prime Minister's comments came after the BJP-led NDA's significant victories in Maharashtra and other states, further cementing its position as a dominant political force.

PM Modi: 'Unity has defeated divisive politics, strengthened BJP-NDA across India'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attributed the BJP-NDA's resounding victories across states to the unity among diverse sections of Indian society, which he said rejected divisive politics. Addressing BJP workers at the party headquarters, Modi stated, "The sentiment of 'Ek hain toh safe hain' has taught a lesson to those who make people fight in the name of caste, religion, language, and region. It has punished them."

He highlighted the inclusive support the alliance received, saying, "Tribals, OBCs, Dalits—every section of society voted for BJP-NDA." Modi described the election outcomes as a "strong blow" to the Congress and INDIA alliance's alleged attempts to divide society, asserting that their "eco-system and agenda" were decisively defeated.

The Prime Minister praised the public's endorsement of development and unity over divisive narratives, further solidifying the BJP-NDA's position nationwide.

'"Maharashtra has become sixth state in the country that has given mandate to BJP for third consecutive time': PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the BJP's monumental victory in Maharashtra, marking the state's inclusion in a select list of regions that have given the party a third consecutive mandate. "Maharashtra has become the sixth state in the country to give the mandate to BJP for a third consecutive time. Before this, Haryana, Goa, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh had achieved such a feat," PM Modi said during his address to BJP workers at the party headquarters in Delhi.

He also praised the NDA's continued success, noting that Bihar has granted a mandate for more than three consecutive terms. Reflecting on his own political journey, the Prime Minister remarked, "After 60 years, I have been given a chance to lead this nation," emphasizing the importance of the people's trust in the BJP's vision for India’s future.