Close contest on cards in Maharashtra and Jharkhand

Advantage to B¥P-led Mahayuti in Maharashtra, edge to MM-led coalition in fharkhand

- VINAY KUMAR

As polling concluded in the Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand on Wednesday, several exit polls predicted a close contest between the BJP-led alliance and the Congress-led INDIA bloc, the two major political opponents. While some exit polls predicted an edge for the BJPled alliances in both states, others gave a slight advantage to the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition in the crucial state of Maharashtra.

Maharashtra—India’s most financially significant state— has left pollsters in confusion.

Out of nine exit polls, three predicted a hung Assembly, four leaned toward the ruling alliance, and two hedged their bets.

In Jharkhand, where a clear outcome was widely anticipated, poll analysts remained divided. Three suggested that the ruling JMM-led alliance would retain the state, while three others opined that the NDA might snatch victory from the INDIA bloc.

The aggregate of nine exit polls indicates an NDA victory in Maharashtra, while the data shows a close fight in Jharkhand.