Results for the Maharashtra and Haryana assembly election 2019 held on October 21 will be out today. With most exit polls predicting a return of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena alliance for the second consecutive time, counting of votes for the Maharashtra assembly elections began at 8 am today.
At about 8.30 am, the BJP has taken the lead in both the states. In Maharashtra, the BJP is leading in 63 seats of 93 where counting has begun. In Haryana, the BJP is leading in 40 of the 53 seats where counting has begun.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena alliance has raced ahead in early trends with a lead in 119 seats. Congress-NCP, on the other hand, is leading in 44, according to early trends. BJP is currently leading in 82 seats while Shiv Sena is leading in 37. Congress is leading in 25 seats while NCP is ahead in 19 seats.
The BJP, which won 122 seats in 2014, aspires to reach the majority mark of 145 on its own or get as close to it as possible, reducing dependence on the Shiv Sena. The Shiv Sena, on the other hand, would want to win over 100 seats to at least achieve parity in the tie-up.
Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray, the first from the family to fight an election, is leading from Worli constituency. Early trends indicate that Devendra Fadnavis is leading from the Nagpur South West seat.
Talking of Haryana, both Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and his predecessor Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is leading Congress in Haryana, are leading from their respective constituencies, as per the early trends available. Haryana minister Anil Vij, a five-time legislator from Ambala Cantt, is leading from his constituency in early trends.
This elections are crucial for Congress as it has faced desertions after a second successive debacle in the Lok Sabha polls.