While announcing polling dates for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar expressed strong concerns about the early reporting of election trends by media outlets. He criticised the practice of projecting trends just 15 to 30 minutes after the vote-counting process begins, calling such results “nonsense.”


Taking into account the cautionary words of CEC, ABP Network ensures its reporting is accurate and reliable. Our vast network of on-ground reporters provides firsthand updates, which form the basis of our early trend projections. These trends, derived from verified inputs, offer an initial glimpse into voter sentiment as the counting process begins. However, we recognize that these trends are dynamic and may evolve as the counting progresses, reflecting the true outcome over time.


Early Trends: Maharashtra Assembly Polls 2024 Counting 


While the postal ballots are being counted, in Maharashtra the fight seems to sway in the favour of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is behind but not too far. As of 8.20 am, BJP+ was leading at 25 seats and Congress+ was leading at 17 assembly seats. 


Multiple exit polls had predicted that the fight in Maharashtra to remain tight with Mahayuti's bigger partner BJP to have an edge. As of now, the early trends are going the way pollsters had predicted.



  


Maharashtra Assembly Election Counting Underway  


The 288-member Maharashtra Assembly election was conducted in a single phase on Wednesday, November 20. The state recorded a voter turnout of 65.11%, the highest in 30 years.  


Key Polling Turnout Figures In Maharashtra Include:



  • Kolhapur: 76.63%

  • Gadchiroli: 75.26% (including Left Wing Extremism-affected areas)

  • Mumbai Island City: 52.07% (lowest turnout)

  • Mumbai Suburban District: 55.95%  


Counting Arrangements  


The Election Commission (EC) has set up comprehensive measures to ensure smooth vote counting:



  • Counting Centres: 288 centres, one for each assembly constituency, and an additional centre for the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll held simultaneously.

  • Observers: 288 counting observers have been deployed, with two dedicated to monitoring the Nanded bypoll.

  • Postal Ballots: Due to a high volume of postal ballots, 1,732 tables have been set up specifically for postal ballot counting.

  • ETPBMS Scanning: 592 tables are designated for scanning ballots under the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot Management System (ETPBMS).