.jpg "Prime Minister Modi Arrives at BJP Headquarters, Union Home Minister Shah Offers Prayers in Kurukshetra")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the BJP headquarters in Delhi, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar offered prayers at Shri Devikoop Bhadrakali Temple in Kurukshetra. Additionally, non-essential construction work has been banned in Delhi-NCR due to Stage-3 curbs under an air pollution control plan. Furthermore, French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit Delhi on January 26 for India's Republic Day.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar's election campaign in Maharashtra has been focused on the color pink, symbolizing feminine energy and garnering support from women voters. As the Mahayuti alliance leads in the state, Pawar's party is performing well in 36 constituencies, including his own in Baramati where he is currently leading with a significant margin. This victory holds extra significance for Pawar, who is using the color pink to not only claim victory, but also to avenge the perceived betrayal by his uncle and political rival Sharad Pawar. The use of this strategic color scheme in his campaign has also been seen in his wardrobe, with reports claiming that he owns 18 pink jackets. Ultimately, the success of the NCP's pink campaign could help decide the fate of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra.
In a stunning blow to Uddhav Thackeray's political career, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has emerged victorious in the Maharashtra assembly elections, solidifying his claim as the leader of the "real Shiv Sena". Shinde's faction, part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, is leading in over 200 seats, surpassing Uddhav's faction and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. Shinde's focus on preserving the party's original ideology seems to have resonated with voters, establishing him as the rightful heir to the Shiv Sena's political legacy.
The split between Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP has resulted in over 70 seats being flipped from their parent parties to the BJP in the Maharashtra Assembly election. This has dealt a major blow to the opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi, which has only managed to secure 53 seats so far. Without these 70 seats, the opposition stands no chance against the dominant BJP, which is on course for its best ever score in the state. The BJP is expected to rely on these offshoots for a majority in the assembly, potentially leaving the Maha Vikas Aghadi out of reach.
In the ongoing Maharashtra assembly elections, the son of late politician Baba Siddique, Zeeshan Siddique, is trailing in Vandre East, Mumbai while Shiv Sena's Varun Sardesai is leading by over 5,000 votes. Siddique, who had joined the Ajit Pawar-led faction last month, had accused the Maha Vikas Aghadi of deserting him and his father after the latter was shot dead by the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The bypolls to 48 assembly seats and two parliamentary constituencies in 15 different states are also being counted and results will be declared today. Stay updated with the latest news on NDTV.com and watch live updates on the same.
With the Maharashtra Assembly election results just a day away, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is confident of coming out on top with a projected win of 160-165 seats. However, as the parties in the alliance differ on their choice for the CM face, fissures have emerged within the alliances. In the midst of this, the MVA and Mahayuti, comprising of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, are holding informal meetings amidst projections of a win for the BJP-led bloc in exit polls. The MVA claims they will form the government within 12 hours of the results being declared.
In the latest updates from the Andheri East Assembly constituency, the latest opinion polls show a tough competition between incumbent MLA Jitendra Awhad from NCP and newcomer Rutuja Ramesh Latke from Shiv Sena. With the elections held on November 20, the results will determine which party gains control in this key constituency in Mumbai. Stay updated with mid-day's online coverage for the latest updates and analysis.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, running for the first time in national elections, is expected to win by an impressive margin in the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election. Her lead has crossed 2 lakh votes, cementing the Congress party's stronghold in the constituency. Despite facing criticism from rivals for focusing on dynasty politics, Priyanka's campaign resonated with voters as she promised to address their concerns and build upon her brother's legacy. This victory marks a significant milestone in her political career.
Aditi Tatkare, daughter of senior NCP leader Sunil Tatkare, has emerged as the first victor of the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls after securing a massive victory from the Shrivardhan constituency. This victory is a major boost for the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which was formed after a split with the party founded by Sharad Pawar. In other election news, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has also secured a win in his constituency. The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is set to retain power in the state, leading in 218 of the 288 seats, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi is leading in only 50 seats.
Congress-led UDF candidate Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is leading in the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll in Kerala, with a margin of over three lakh votes after three hours of counting, according to Election Commission figures. The counting of postal ballots began at 8 am, with Priyanka receiving 3,17,983 votes so far. The strong rooms where EVMs were kept were opened more than an hour before counting began.
According to Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, some seats have been stolen amid the counting of votes for the Maharashtra polls, leading to a win for the ruling Mahayuti. Along with other leaders, he questions the election results, alleging foul play and pointing to the use of EVMs in the elections. They have called for an investigation into the matter and expressed confidence in their faction's victory that is not reflected by the current trend.