 "As the MVA, consisting of Congress, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, struggles to make a dent, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has raised a storm of allegations. He claims there is a \"big conspiracy\" at play and suggests something \"fishy\" about the election results. File image/PTI")
The ruling Mahayuti is set for a landslide victory in Maharashtra as the trends show the BJP-led alliance, routing the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
According to trends, Mahayuti comprising the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP achieved a majority mark by securing 214 seats of the 288 assembly seats, while the MVA struggled, with its candidates ahead in just 67 constituencies.
As the MVA, consisting of Congress, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, struggles to make a dent, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has raised a storm of allegations. He claims there is a “big conspiracy” at play and suggests something “fishy” about the election results.
Here’s a closer look at Sanjay Raut’s dramatic claims.
‘Maha’ victory for Mahayuti
The BJP alliance is on track to secure a monumental victory in Maharashtra.
As of now, the Mahayuti alliance is leading with 224 seats, with the BJP alone ahead in 124 constituencies. The Shiv Sena follows with 51 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP is leading in 37 seats.
The magic number to form a majority government in the state is 145.
Early trends showed the saffron party with a remarkable strike rate of over 86 per cent, while the Shiv Sena boasts a solid 73 per cent success rate and the NCP maintains a strong 80 per cent strike rate.
In contrast, the opposition bloc, comprising Congress, the Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (SP), appears to be decimated. Sharad Pawar, who hinted that this would be his last election, is heading for his worst-ever performance, with his party leading in just 10 seats.
Congress is also facing a disastrous outcome, with leads in only 19 seats—less than half of its 2019 tally of 44 seats. The party, which had stunned everyone by emerging as the biggest winner in Maharashtra during the Lok Sabha elections, is now on track to finish near the bottom in the state assembly.
Catch up on all live updates from the Maharashtra election results
As the Mahayuti alliance edges closer to a historic victory, celebrations have erupted across the state. Party workers and leaders have hailed the alliance’s strong performance, with celebrations marked by the distribution of sweets.
Eknath Shinde, alongside his son, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, joined in the festivities, distributing ladoos to party workers.
“I thank the voters of Maharashtra. This is a landslide victory. I had said before that Mahayuti will get a thumping victory. I thank all sections of society. I also thank all the workers of the Mahayuti parties,” Shinde told reporters in Thane.
When asked about the future of the alliance, which is set to form the next government, Shinde stated, “Let the final results come in… Then, in the same way as we fought elections together, all three parties will sit together and take a decision.”
Opposition cries foul
As the Maharashtra election results unfold, several opposition leaders have expressed disappointment and raised doubts about the outcome.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut has claimed that something is amiss in the polls.
“They have done some ‘gadbad’ (mess), they have stolen some of our seats,” Raut said while speaking to reporters.
He questioned the outcome, asking, “In every election seat, money-counting machines were installed. Is it possible that (Chief Minister) Eknath Shinde gets 60 seats, Ajit Pawar gets 40 seats, and the BJP gets 125 seats? The people of this state are not dishonest. We have faith in the people of Maharashtra.”
Raut refused to specify whether he was alluding to the manipulation of electronic voting machines or something else. “From what we are seeing, it seems that something is wrong. This was not the decision of the public. Everyone will understand what is wrong here. What did they (Mahayuti) do that they are getting more than 120 seats? How is it that MVA is getting not even 75 seats in Maharashtra?” he questioned.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader made it clear that the party would not accept the result, stating, “This cannot be the public’s decision. Once the results are out, we will talk more.”
Congress leader Priyanka Chaturvedi echoed similar sentiments, alleging, “The results have come as a surprise. The way our lead of 151 seats in Lok Sabha was reduced to this in the Assembly elections, a question arises: how did such a difference come?”
Further, Congress leader Udit Raj also wrote on X, “As long as there are EVMs, elections cannot be fair. The election trends of Maharashtra clearly indicate that this is the victory of EVM.”
BJP hits back
Reacting to Sanjay Raut’s criticism, BJP spokesperson Shehzaad Poonawalla accused him of “mental bankruptcy,” suggesting that the opposition only questions the reliability of EVMs when the results don’t go in their favour.
“The results in Wayanad (where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is winning) are fine… the INDIA alliance feels that they will win in Jharkhand and the EVMs are fine there, EVMs were fine in Jammu and Kashmir. But there is something amiss in Haryana and Maharashtra. Whenever they (opposition parties) lose an election or a case in court, they start abusing EVMs, the Election Commission and courts,” Poonawalla remarked.
BJP leader Pravin Darekar also slammed Raut and said the Shiv Sena UBT leader needs to “land his aircraft on the ground.”
“Victory cannot be achieved by merely abusing, he needs to understand the ground realities of the state,” said Darekar.
With input from agencies