Maharashtra assembly polls: Who’s ahead and who’s trailing among BJP, Congress veterans?

The counting of votes for the Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024 began on Saturday, with key figures emerging as frontrunners and others trailing in crucial constituencies. As the counting progresses, the following trends have emerged (as of 9:45 am):

Ajit Pawar Leads in Baramati

Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP chief, Ajit Pawar, is leading by 3,759 votes from the Baramati assembly seat at the end of the first round.

Prithviraj Chavan Trails in Karad South

Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra CM, Prithviraj Chavan, is trailing by 1,590 votes in the Karad South assembly seat at the end of the first round.

Nana Patole Leads in Sakoli

Maharashtra Congress president, Nana Patole, is leading by 344 votes from the Sakoli assembly seat as of the first round's conclusion.

Eknath Shinde Leads in Kopri-Pachpakhadi

Maharashtra CM, Eknath Shinde, is leading by over 4,000 votes in the Kopri-Pachpakhadi assembly seat at the end of the first round.

Devendra Fadnavis Leads in Nagpur South-West

Maharashtra Deputy CM and BJP leader, Devendra Fadnavis, is leading by 2,246 votes from the Nagpur South-West assembly seat at the conclusion of the first round.

Alliance standings as of 10 am

By 10 am, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance crossed the halfway mark, leading in 172 seats, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance is trailing with 47 seats, according to trends from the Elections Commission of India.

The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is leading in 53 seats, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 33, and the BJP is leading in 100 seats. The Rashtriya Yuva Swabhiman Party (RYSWP), part of the Mahayuti alliance, holds one seat.

In the MVA, the Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) alliance is leading in 12 seats, Congress in 17 seats, and the UBT Sena in 18 seats. The Samajwadi Party, also part of the MVA, has secured 2 seats.

Other parties, including Jan Surajya Shakti (JSS), are leading in three seats. The Peasants And Workers Party of India (PWPI) is leading in two seats, and Swatantra Bharat Paksha (SBP) is leading in one seat. These smaller parties are expected to support the MVA alliance.