Maharashtra assembly poll results News

The tenure of Maharashtra Assembly ends on Saturday. 

Earlier, speaking to reporters BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar had said, "A delegation led by party state president Chandrakant Patil will meet Governor in the morning. Today`s meeting was to discuss several things including implementation of relief packages for farmers, the party`s expansion and possibilities of the new party-state President."

The leaders of the two allies are expected to discuss the unfolding political situation in Maharashtra. They are likely to clarify their stand after the meeting whether to support the Shiv Sena, which is not happy with its ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Earlier in the day, Sanjay Raut said that his meeting with Governor Koshyari would be a mere `courtesy visit`. Speaking to media persons in Mumbai, Raut said, "It is a courtesy visit. He is a very experienced leader as he has been a union minister and a chief minister. Due to the elections, I was unable to meet him earlier."

Amid the scrimmage going on between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena over the government formation in Maharashtra, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Thursday stated that Devendra Fadnavis will be the next chief minister, adding that there is no 50-50 formula.

The Editorial while reminding that Dhanteras and Laxmi Pooja has already gone, said, "There are two days left for 'Navvarsha' and 'Bhaiyya Duj'. However, due to slowdown, purchases in the markets have been 30-40 per cent lesser. Due to GST and Demonetisation, the economic situation is deteriorating day by day instead of improving."

The first to call on the Governor was Shiv Sena`s Transport Minister in the outgoing cabinet Diwakar Raote. After the meeting, he said, "I come to meet the Governor every year on the occasion of Diwali. It has been my tradition for the past over five decades." He added, "There was no discussion on our politics," he added and requested that "no political motives should be attributed to the courtesy call" on the Governor.

The Shiv Sena is likely to inform the Governor about their stand and urge not to take the pre-poll alliance seriously while inviting the largest single party BJP  in next govt formation as the Shiv Sena is looking for 50-50 sharing formula.

"In our meeting, it was decided that like Amit Shah had promised 50:50 formula before Lok Sabha polls, similarly both allies should get chance to run the government for 2.5-2.5 years. So Shiv Sena should also have CM. Uddhav Thackeray should get this assurance in writing from BJP," Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik said.

It is not possible for the BJP to form a government in Maharashtra only without the help of Shiv Sena. In the 288-member Assembly, a total of 105 BJP MLAs have won the election while Shiv Sena won 56 seats. BJP is not even close to the halfway-mark to claim majority to form a government on its own. 

Aditya Thackeray emerged out victorious from Worli Assembly constituency after defeating NCP candidate Suresh Mane by a margin of over 67,000 votes. He is the first member of the family in Shiv Sena's history to contest the election.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has placed a condition before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before forming a government together in Maharashtra. Thackeray has bluntly told the BJP that the party should first agree on the 50-50 formula and only after that the Shiv Sena will decide to form a government with the BJP.

It wasn't an easy race for the BJP in Haryana, where the party failed to cross the halfway-mark to claim a majority in the 90-member Assembly. Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, the BJP had joined hands with Shiv Sena ahead of the election and therefore, a coalition government will be formed. 

Aditya Thackeray is the first member of the family in the party's history to contest elections. He emerged out victorious from Worli Assembly constituency after defeating NCP candidate Suresh Mane by a margin of over 70,000 votes.

The Sena chief further added that discussions should be held and then it should be decided that who would become the chief minister of Maharashtra. He also thanked the people of Maharashtra for their support.

Though the final results will take several hours more to get a clear picture, the ubiquitous independent candidates and smaller political outfits appeared to have put up a surprising performance in the Maharashtra assembly elections.

The main contest in the state is between BJP-Shiv Sena alliance called the 'Mahayuti' and the Congress-NCP alliance named 'Maha-aghadi' (front) for 288 Assembly seats. 

The counting of votes for 228 Assembly seats in Maharashtra has begun at 269 locations on Thursday, October 24. The fate of 3,237 candidates, including 235 women, are in the fray this time. 

Prominent leaders like BJP`s Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil in Shirdi, Nitesh Rane in Kankavali, Mohini Eknath Khadse in Muktainagar and Shiv Sena`s Aditya Thackeray in Worli are leading. 

The fate of 3,237 candidates in the fray from Maharashtra will be known when the result of 2019 Assembly elections in the state is declared on Thursday, October 24. The counting of votes will begin at 8 am and is likely to continue till afternoon.