Maharashtra Elections Exit Poll: Is BJP-Led Mahayuti Retaining Power? Here's What P-MARQ Survey Says

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance appears poised to retain power in Maharashtra, according to exit polls conducted by P-MARQ. The survey predicts the ruling coalition will secure between 137 and 157 seats in the 288-member assembly, where the majority mark stands at 145.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is projected to win between 126 and 146 seats, while smaller parties and independents are expected to claim 2 to 8 seats.

The survey claims that Mahayuti is expected to garner 42 per cent vote share, while the MVA is likely to bag 41 per cent. Others are expected to get 17 per cent.

Battle of Alliances
The Mahayuti alliance includes the BJP, contesting 149 seats; the Shiv Sena, fielding candidates in 81 constituencies; and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, contesting 59 seats. On the other side, the MVA alliance features Congress with 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) with 95, and the NCP (SP) fielding 86 candidates.

The assembly election, held on November 20, saw an intense battle for dominance, with major political figures like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigning across the state.

Election Campaign
The BJP-led coalition banked on its popular welfare schemes, including Majhi Ladki Bahin, aimed at empowering women, to strengthen its voter base. However, the election was not without controversy.

The BJP's slogans, such as "Batenge toh katenge" and "Ek hai toh safe hai," sparked backlash from the opposition. The MVA accused the Mahayuti of using divisive rhetoric to polarize voters along religious lines. The opposition leaders, including Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, and Congress stalwarts, criticized these narratives as harmful to Maharashtra's social fabric.

Looking Back at 2019
In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP emerged as the largest party with 105 seats, followed by the undivided Shiv Sena with 56, the NCP with 54, and Congress with 44. This time, the stakes are even higher as the Shiv Sena factions, the two Pawars, and the MVA alliance vie for legitimacy and power in one of India's most politically significant states.

The results on November 23 will reveal whether the exit poll predictions hold true or if Maharashtra is in for a political surprise.