The election results for Maharashtra are set to be announced today, Saturday, with major focus on key constituencies like Nagpur South-West.
In the Nagpur South-West constituency, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), faces a challenge from Congress candidate Gudadhe-Patil.
As of 3 pm, early data from the Election Commission website showed Fadnavis leading by a significant margin of 27,386 votes in the Nagpur South-West constituency.
Reacting to the impressive performance of the Mahayuti alliance—comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)—Fadnavis said: “Ek hai toh safe hai, Modi hai toh mumkin hai.” The alliance currently holds over 200 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, signaling a strong mandate.
The 54-year-old Fadnavis appears poised to take on the state's top position for a second term in a region often influenced by Maratha leadership.
Fadnavis, the son of the late Jan Sangh and BJP leader Gangadhar Fadnavis, began his political journey early, joining the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS, in 1989. By age 22, he was elected as a corporator in Nagpur's municipal body, and he became the youngest Mayor of the city at 27. Fadnavis secured his first Assembly win in 1999.
Mahayuti Alliance Looks to Secure Power
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is on track to retain power in Maharashtra, with projections suggesting a victory in 219 out of 288 seats. The Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT)-NCP (Sharad Pawar) coalition lags far behind, with only 51 seats.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, leader of the Shiv Sena, expressed gratitude to voters after preliminary results suggested a resounding win for the Mahayuti coalition. Speaking from his official residence 'Varsha' in Mumbai, Shinde said, "Let’s wait for the final numbers. Once we have the complete results, the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP will meet, consult with senior leaders, and make a unified decision."
On Thursday, Fadnavis displayed confidence that the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance would maintain its hold over the state, noting that higher voter turnout hinted at strong public support.
He attributed the alliance’s success to the popularity of the current government and initiatives like the Ladki Bahin scheme, which he believes played a crucial role in attracting more female voters.
“The voter turnout has gone up in Maharashtra. In our experience, when turnout increases, it usually benefits us. We are confident that we will form the government again. This surge in turnout could be a sign of pro-incumbency, indicating a positive sentiment toward the government," Fadnavis remarked.
He emphasized the role of targeted voter groups, particularly women, in the BJP’s success, stating, "We have reports that more women are voting for us, largely due to the Ladki Bahin scheme."
High Turnout in a Competitive Election
Maharashtra's Assembly elections saw a voter turnout of 65.08%, reflecting a tight contest between the ruling Mahayuti coalition—comprised of BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde), and NCP (Ajit Pawar)—and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar).
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