- By Talib Khan
- Thu, 24 Oct 2019 06:34 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: Voting for the 288-seat legislative assembly of Maharashtra concluded on October 21 to choose the fate of 3,237 candidates contesting the elections. With 60.5 per cent voter turnout recorded in the voting exercise, the fate of these candidates will be announced today.
Nandurabar district crossed the 62.38 per cent voter turnout, while the Raigad district witnessed 59.27 per cent voter turnout. In the Kolhapur district, 69.04 per cent voter turnout has been recorded making it the highest in Maharashtra. In other districts like Sangli, Jalna, Hingoli and Pune, 61.25 per cent, 62.64 per cent, 63.07 per cent, and 52.80 per cent voter turnout has been recorded respectively.
Riding high on the ‘Modi wave 2.0’, the BJP is likely to retain its power in the state, as the exit polls conducted after voting to predict a thumping victory to the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in the state. The polls of exit polls suggested that the BJP will win 203-204 seats in the 288-seat state assembly. The opposition is likely to fail to convert the anti-incumbency factor in its favour and is expected to get only 67-68 seats.
India Today-Axis My India: BJP-Shiv Sena - 166-194 (180) Congress-NCP -- 72-90 seats (81), Others -- 22-34 (28).
ABP-C Voter: BJP-204, Congress-69, Others - 15
Republic-Jan Ki Baat: BJP - 216-230 (223), Congress - 44-65, Others - 8-11
News 24: BJP - 181, Congress - 81, Others - 26
India TV: BJP - 230, Congress - 48, Others - 10
The BJP is eyeing a second consecutive term in office under Fadnavis. The BJP and Shiv Sena contested the elections together in Maharashtra, BJP contested on 150 seats, while the Shiv Sena contested on 126 and had left the remaining 14 seats for the smaller allies, which will contest on the ‘Lotus’ symbol. On the other hand, the Congress-NCP alliance fielded their candidates on 147 and 121 seats respectively.
The campaign in Maharashtra was marked by personal attacks and sharp exchange of barbs between the chief minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who hit the hustings at the age of 79 and addressed several rallies. However, Congress and NCP failed to hold even a single joint rally. The opposition highlighted issues like unemployment and the prevailing economic slowdown in the country.
BJP raised the nationalism slogan in its poll campaign, hitting out at the opposition for questioning the abrogation of Article 370 from Kashmir and the change in central government’s policies in handling the cross-border attacks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, and NCP chief Sharad Pawar were among the top leaders who campaigned in the state.
In 2014, the BJP and the Shiv had contested the elections separately with the saffron party getting 122 seats while the Shiv Sena won on 63 seats. The Congress and the NCP fought the election together and won 42 and 41 seats respectively.
