New Delhi:

Counting of votes for the Maharashtra Assembly election – a straight fight between the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi – begins at 8 am, with a majority of the 11 exit polls studied by NDTV leaning heavily towards the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance.

The MVA – fronted by the Congress and the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar – has been given a (very) slim chance of upsetting the BJP’s applecart in the final major election of the year; only one exit poll believes it can win.

Three others are on the fence, although one has tilted towards the MVA and the other the Mahayuti, which includes the Sena and NCP groups led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar.

Voting for the Maharashtra Assembly’s 288 seats was held Wednesday in single phase. The majority mark is 145, and an average of the 11 exit polls gives the Mahayuti 155 seats.

The MVA is expected to get 120 seats and smaller parties and independent candidates 13.

But a health warning: exit polls often get it wrong.

Exit Poll Numbers

The nine exit polls that predict victory for the Mahayuti all expect it to be a dominant performance.

In fact, of those nine Axis-My India, Peoples Pulse, Poll Diary, and Today’s Chanakya have each given the BJP-led alliance a minimum of 175 seats. Chanakya Strategies, Matrize, and Times Now-JVC also expect victory for the BJP’s coalition, with at least 150 seats.

Across the aisle, only Electoral Edge expects the Congress’ alliance to win and, even then, by five seats only, with 20 seats from smaller parties and independents in play for the BJP.

READ | NDA Has Edge But 3 Of 11 Exit Polls Predict Hung Assembly

The Dainik Bhaskar, Lokshahi Marathi-Rudra, and P-Marq exit polls are on the fence, although the latter favours the Mahayuti with an upper prediction of 157 and the former the MVA with 150.

However, Thackeray Sena MP Sanjay Raut has rubbished the predictions, pointing to incorrect previews of the Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir elections and insisting the MVA will win.

READ | Mahayuti vs MVA On “Fraud” Exit Polls As Maharashtra Awaits Result

“They said Congress would win Haryana but what happened? They said Modiji would get 400 seats in the Lok Sabha… but what happened there? You will see… we will win 160-165 seats,” he declared.

Voter Turnout

Polling on Wednesday saw a voter turnout of 65.1 per cent – the highest since the 63.4 per cent recorded for the 2004 and 2014 elections and the second highest since 71.5 per cent in 1995.

The increased voter turnout has been flagged by both alliances as ‘proof positive’ that their side will emerge triumphant when votes are counted, although conventional wisdom suggests high voter turnout is bad news for the incumbent party or candidate.

READ | 65.1% Voter Turnout Is 2nd Highest 1990s, Highest In A Decade

Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis declared, “Increase in voting percentage means it is in favour of the current government… it means people are supporting the current government.”

Race For Chief Minister’s Post

Meanwhile, away from the ballot boxes there is jostling and shoving offstage as senior figures within each alliance bid to replace Mr Shinde as Chief Minister. And that race looks to have exposed cracks in each alliance, with each party talking up its candidates for the top post.

Claims by the Congress’ state unit chief, Nana Patole, that his party would emerge as the single-largest and therefore be in pole position to pick the Chief Minister have been contested by Mr Raut, who said the final decision will be taken after victory is confirmed and by all stakeholders.

READ | Who Will Be Chief Minister? NDA, MVA Ministers Stake Claim

In the Mahayuti, the Shinde Sena and the BJP appear to be at odds on the same issue, with the former batting for Mr Shinde to continue and the latter pitching Mr Fadnavis, who was the Chief Minister when the BJP and (then) undivided Sena were in power between 2014 and 2019.

And the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar has thrown its hat in the ring too, on the back of hopes it will emerge as the ‘kingmaker’, although the question of which side it will help crown was waved away.

What Happened In 2019?

The 2019 election resulted in a thumping win for the BJP and the undivided Sena; the saffron party won 105 seats (down 17 from 2014) and its ally 56 (down seven).

However, two long-time allies fell out, quite spectacularly, in the following days after they failed to agree a power-sharing deal. Mr Thackeray then led his Sena into a surprise alliance with the Congress and Sharad Pawar’s NCP (then also undivided) to shut out a furious BJP.

Much to the surprise of many, the ruling tripartite alliance lasted for nearly three years despite the divergent political beliefs and ideologies of the Sena and the Congress-NCP.

Eventually, it was an internal rebellion led by Sena leader Eknath Shinde that ousted the MVA government. Mr Shinde led Sena lawmakers into a deal with the BJP, forcing Mr Thackeray to resign and allowing himself to be named as the new Chief Minister.

The NCP split a year later in a near-identical process that saw Ajit Pawar and lawmakers loyal to him joining the BJP-Shinde Sena, and he then became a Deputy Chief Minister.

Since then, Maharashtra politics has been roiled in controversy that extended to the Supreme Court, which heard petitions and cross-petitions on disqualification of MLAs and, in the build-up to this election, pleas on which Sena and NCP faction is the ‘real’ one.

With input from agencies

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Watch: ‘We must accept the results of this election’: Kamala Harris concedes election

Faced with a rejection by American voters, Vice President Kamala Harris conceded the presidential election to Donald Trump on October 6, 2024, and encouraged supporters to continue fighting for their vision of the country.

Ms. Harris called Mr. Trump to congratulate him on his victory before she addressed her supporters. She told the crowd that “we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power.” “My heart is full today….full of love for our country and full of resolve,” she said. “I spoke with President-Elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory. I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power,” she said, speaking at her alma mater, Howard University, just after 4 pm in Washington D.C.

New Delhi:

Political parties and leaders wait with bated breath for the Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir assembly poll results today. Officials said all preparations, including security arrangements, have been completed for the counting process which begins at 8 am.

While 93 counting centres have been set up across 90 assembly constituencies in 22 districts of Haryana, heavy security arrangements have been put in place at all 20 counting centres and district headquarters across Jammu and Kashmir for the vote count in Jammu and Kashmir. The election results in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana will come days after the exit polls predicted a comeback for the Congress in the heartland state and a hung house in the union territory.

Haryana

The elections in Haryana are the first major direct contest between the BJP and the Congress following the Lok Sabha polls, and the result here would be used by the winner to build a narrative in their favour in other states where polls are due over the next few months.

The key parties in the fray are the BJP, the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, INLD-BSP and the JJP-Azad Samaj Party. However, most seats are likely to see a direct fight between the BJP and the Congress.

A total of 1,031 candidates, including 464 Independents and 101 women, are in the fray on Haryana’s 90 constituencies which voted in a single phase on October 5.

Prominent among those in the fray are Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini (Ladwa), Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Garhi Sampla-Kiloi), INLD’s Abhay Chautala (Ellenabad), JJP’s Dushyant Chautala (Uchana Kalan), BJP’s Anil Vij (Ambala Cantt), Capt Abhimanyu (Narnaund), O P Dhankar (Badli), AAP’s Anurag Dhanda (Kalayat) and Congress’ Vinesh Phogat (Julana).

A few rebels from both Congress and BJP have also entered the contest.

In 2019, the BJP formed the government with the support of JJP while most Independents also extended support. However, JJP’s post-poll tie-up with the BJP ended after the saffron party replaced Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini as chief minister in March this year.

Jammu And Kashmir

The counting of votes in Jammu and Kashmir will be special as the union territory will get its first elected government since 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated.

However, on the eve of the results, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s power to nominate five members to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was at the centre of a political and legal debate, with the Congress and regional parties National Conference and PDP on opposing any such move during government formation.

The Congress, its ally National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have also threatened to approach the Supreme Court.

In the mega battle of alliances, the addition of the five nominated members would take the House strength to 95, and the majority mark to 48. These members, who could be potentially advantageous to the BJP, will have the same powers and voting rights as other MLAs.

Meanwhile, top leaders of the Congress-NC alliance, the BJP and the PDP have expressed confidence in forming the next government in the union territory.

While the Congress and the National Conference, who formed a pre-poll alliance, claimed they would cross the magical figure of 46 in the 90-member House on their own, the BJP was relying on independent candidates and the PDP said no secular government was possible in Jammu and Kashmir without its support.

Meanwhile, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has asserted that the next government in Jammu and Kashmir will be secular and not without her party’s support.

The first assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir – to decide the fate of 873 candidates – since 2014 was held over three phases with 24 seats going to polls in the first phase on September 18. The second phase of polling was held on September 18 in which 26 seats went to polls while the polling for the remaining 40 seats was held on October 1.

The voting for 90 seats in Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, the first in almost a decade, took place in three phases – September 18, September 25 and October 1. While voting for 90 seats in Haryana state polls is underway.

The votes for both will be counted on October 8. The focus now shifts to exit polls, which try to predict election outcomes by interviewing voters right after they have cast their votes.

Banned during the voting process, exit polls can be made public 30 minutes after voting ends.

This is to ensure that the polls don’t influence people while they are still voting, but also still allows for immediate analysis and discussion once the process is complete.

Warning: The exit polls do not always get it right. They have been way off the mark in the past.

Exit Polls 2024: Date And Time

TV channels and websites will broadcast exit poll data on October 5 after 6.30 PM.

Exit polls are calculated using a combination of sampling methods and statistical analysis by various agencies.

Where To Watch Exit Poll Results

Catch the live stream of Exit Poll results for the 2024 Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls on NDTV. You can also track the live updates on the exit poll results on YouTube and all social media channels of NDTV.

For more highlights, you can follow NDTV’s live blog.

New Delhi:

After high-octane campaigns and elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana, it’s time for Exit Polls. Jammu and Kashmir is all set to get a new government after the assembly elections held over three phases – September 18, September 25 and October 1 – after a gap of 10 years.

Haryana voted today. A total of 1,031 candidates are contesting in all 90 assembly constituencies, and 20,632 polling booths have been set up for voting.

The results for the Haryana Assembly elections will be declared along with those of Jammu and Kashmir on October 8.

Health Warning: Exit polls are not always accurate.

Here are the Live Updates on Poll of Exit Polls:

Poll of exit poll: Congress government should be brought to power in Haryana – Bajrang Punia

Congress leader and wrestler Bajrang Punia said that the Congress government should come in power next in the state. Bajrang Punia arrived at a polling station in Jhajjar to cast their vote for the 2024 Haryana elections.

“I appeal to the people of Haryana to vote as much as possible. Today there is a lack of employment in Haryana. The government that was in power from 2005-2014, every section of the society developed. In the last 10 years, be it sportspersons, farmers, soldiers, or whoever raised their voice, they were lathi-charged. So keeping this in mind, you should vote as much as possible. Congress government should be brought to power in Haryana,” Bajrang Punia said while speaking to ANI.

61% Turnout Recorded Till 5 pm: 10 Points

Poll of Exit Poll Election Results: “Atmosphere of change, Congress will win” – Ashok Tanwar exudes confidence

ongress leader Ashok Tanwar on Saturday exuded confidence in winning maximum number of seats in the Haryana Assembly polls.

After casting his vote, Congress leader Ashok Tanwar says, “Congress will get a minimum of 75 seats. There is an atmosphere of change and Congress will definitely get great success… Congress party stands with all sections and this mandate is against”.

Election 2024 Exit Poll: “Good work has been done in Haryana in last 10 years,” says Union Minister Kiren Rijiju

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday that good work has been done in Haryana in the last 10 years and no one takes seriously what the Congress says. “In the last 10 years, good work has been done in Haryana with the blessings of PM Modi. No one takes seriously what Congress says. For 70 years, they have made false promises. They can win a few elections here and there but will not come to power. The words of Rahul Gandhi are so objectionable that it saddens us, he can criticise us but he shouldn’t say things which harm the nation,” Mr Rijiju said.

Poll of exit poll: Incoming Jammu and K government will be ‘toothless tiger’, says Iltija Mufti

PDP leader Iltija Mufti said the incoming government in Jammu and Kashmir will be a “toothless tiger”, while its Chief Minister will be a “rubber stamp” and “glorified mayor” of a “municipality”.

Jammu and Kashmir is all set to get a new government after the results of the Assembly elections held after a gap of 10 years are announced on October 8.

“With the LG ‘nominating’ five MLAs and the chief secretary changing transaction of business rules, it’s clear that the incoming government will be a toothless tiger,” she said.

J&K exit polls: Farooq Abdullah rules out post-poll alliance with BJP

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday asserted that his party would not forge a post-poll alliance with the BJP for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir.

“We cannot go with the BJP. The vote which we have got here is the vote against the BJP. The difficulties they put the Muslims in, bulldozed their shops, houses, mosques and schools, do you think we will go with them?” Mr Abdullah told PTI videos.

Exit Poll 2024: Bhupinder Hooda Predicts Haryana Result
“There is a pro-Congress wave in Haryana. The Congress is coming, BJP is going. Every section of society is frustrated with the BJP and looking up to Congress. The Congress will form government in Haryana,” said former Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Exit Poll 2024 Results: No Anti-Incumbency In Haryana,” Says Haryana Chief Minister
“There is no anti-incumbency. Congress doesn’t have the public mandate.  It will be a historic win for the BJP.” said Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Haryana results

Jammu Kashmir Exit Poll: Pink polling stations during third phase of Jammu and Kashmir polls
Pink polling stations specifically designed to attract women voters were introduced by election officers in the third and final phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir.

Haryana Elections 2024 Exit Poll: Haryana groom halts at polling booth first, then heads for wedding

A groombecame the centre of attraction at a polling booth in Kurukshetra on Saturday as he reached there to cast his vote before reaching his wedding venue. “I want to give a message to all that casting votes is very important. Nobody should waste a vote,” Sunil Kumar said after voting at the polling booth in the Ladwa assembly seat.

Exit Poll Election Results: Candidates, supporters guard EVM strong rooms ahead of counting

In Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri, candidates and their supporters of every party have been camping outside the EVM strong rooms ahead of counting of votes. Counting of votes of 90 assembly segments across Jammu and Kashmir will take place on October 8.

Exit Poll Results 2024: 49.13% voter turnout in Haryana till 3 pm
A 49.13 percent voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm in Haryana, the Election Commission of India said. Yamunanagar was leading with the highest voting percentage of 56.79 percent followed by Mewat with 56.59 percent, Palwal with 56.02 percent and Jind with 53.94 percent while the lowest voter turnout is recorded in Gurugram with 38.61 percent, it said.