The NDA is set to return to power in the state of Maharashtra as leads at 5 pm showed the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena combine comfortably ahead of the Opposition Congress-NCP alliance. While the BJP had won 40 seats and was leading in 62 (total 102), the Shiv Sena had secured 31 seats and was leading in 26 (total 57) seats. Meanwhile, the Congress and the NCP were leading in 45 and 53 seats respectively. Independent candidates had secured 3 seats and were leading on 10.
As of 5 pm, BJP had a vote share of 25.52 per cent, Shiv Sena had 16.08 percent, Congress 15.81 percent and NCP 16.68 per cent.
Going by the trends, the BJP's tally is lesser by over 20 seats, compared to its performance in the last Assembly elections held in 2014. Shiv Sena had 63 seats last time.
Speaking to the media as trends showed numbers in favour of the BJP-Shiv Sena combine, incumbent Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the media that some Independent candidates had voiced support for BJP
"We are going to go ahead according to what has been decided between Shiv Sena and us (BJP). What has been decided is something which you will get to know when the time is right. 15 independent MLAs have contacted me and they are ready to come with us. Others may also come but these 15 will come with us. Most of them are BJP or Shiv Sena rebels," Fadnavis said, as per ANI.
On polling day, October 21, Maharashtra had recorded 60.46% voting turnout, an over 3% fall from 2014. Maharashtra had recorded 63.38% turnout in 2014 Assembly elections. This time, the state had total 8,98,39,600 voters, including 1,06,76,013 in the age group of 18 to 25 years. After polling concluded, a total of 361 complaints of EVM malfunctioning were filed, including 152 by the Congress and 89 by the Shiv Sena.
The exit polls had predicted a victory for the BJP and the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and a rout for the Congress-NCP alliance. Four exit polls — by Times Now, News18, ABP and Republic — had predicted that BJP and Shiv Sena together will cross the 200 mark.
In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and the Shiv Sena had secured 42 out of the 48 parliamentary seats.
In the 2014 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the BJP had secured 122 seats, which made for 27.81% of the total vote share, but could not manage to breach the halfway mark of 144. Their alliance partner, Shiv Sena, had secured 63 seats, accounting for 19.35% of the vote share. The two parties then entered into a post-poll alliance and formed the government, with the Chief Minister’s position going to the BJP. The Congress had won 42 seats and the NCP had won 41 seats, holding a combined vote share of 35.19%.