Today marks a significant moment in India’s electoral landscape, as the results for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, as well as by-election results for 48 assembly seats and 2 Lok Sabha seats from across 15 states, will be announced. The counting of votes will begin at 8 am, with postal ballots being counted first, followed by the electronic voting machines (EVMs) at 8:30 am. Adequate police forces and surveillance through CCTV cameras have been deployed at all counting centers to ensure smooth and secure proceedings.
Maharashtra Election Results
Maharashtra’s assembly elections, which took place on November 20, saw voters heading to the polls in a single phase for the 288 assembly constituencies. The state has 234 general seats, 29 reserved for Scheduled Castes, and 25 for Scheduled Tribes. The elections were fiercely contested between the ruling Mahayuti alliance (comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and NCP) and the opposition Mahavikas Aghadi (consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP). These results will determine the political balance in Maharashtra and set the stage for future state politics.
Jharkhand Election Results
In Jharkhand, the assembly elections were conducted in two phases, with the first phase taking place on November 13 and the second on November 20. The state has 81 assembly constituencies, and the election results will reveal whether the ruling JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) can hold its ground or whether the opposition, led by BJP, can make inroads. In the 2014 assembly elections, BJP emerged as the single-largest party but could not secure a majority, with JMM gaining significant support in later years.
UP Assembly By-Election Results
In Uttar Pradesh, by-elections for 9 assembly seats were held on November 20. These elections were seen as relatively low-impact for the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government. The seats up for grabs were spread across districts like Mirapur, Muzaffarnagar, Moradabad, Ghaziabad, Kanpur, and Prayagraj, among others. The total of 90 candidates contested the elections, with 11 women candidates. However, the results of these by-elections are unlikely to affect the strength of the Yogi government in the assembly, as the BJP already holds a significant majority.
Key Lok Sabha By-Elections: Nanded and Wayanad
Apart from the assembly elections, there is a particular focus on the Lok Sabha by-elections for the Nanded seat in Maharashtra and the Wayanad seat in Kerala. In Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi has contested following the resignation of Rahul Gandhi, and her political future will be closely watched. In Nanded, all eyes will be on the outcome, as it holds considerable importance in the state’s political scene.
Other By-Elections Across India
In addition to Uttar Pradesh, by-elections were also held in various other states, including:
- Rajasthan: 7 seats
- West Bengal: 6 seats
- Assam: 5 seats
- Bihar and Punjab: 1 seat each
- Karnataka: 3 seats
- Madhya Pradesh: 2 seats
- Kerala: 2 seats
- Sikkim: 2 seats
- Gujarat, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh: 1 seat each
- Andhra Pradesh and Meghalaya: 1 seat each
The results of these by-elections will reflect voter sentiment and political trends across the country, influencing both regional and national politics.
Counting Arrangements
The election commission has ensured that all arrangements for the counting process are in place, with sufficient security measures and surveillance to maintain the integrity of the election process. The results today will provide crucial insights into the political pulse of various states and could have lasting implications for national politics.
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