Mahayuti routs MVA in Maharashtra, INDIA retains Jharkhand; Priyanka's triumphant poll debut

As per the latest trends of the result, Mahayuti, which also comprises Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde camp) and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar), is leading/winning in over 223 out of 288 seats.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray camp), NCP (Sharad Pawar camp) and Congress is leading/winning in 54 seats.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde | Photo courtesy: Eknath Shinde Facebook page

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray camp) leader Sanjay Raut has refused to accept the probable defeat of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

Speaking to reporters, Raut said, "They have done a conspiracy. They have stolen four-five seats from us. The BJP conspired to ensure that no Leader of Opposition exists in the assembly. This has remained its strategy... They used money power in every assembly segment."

"How can a party get more than 200 seats? This result has turned people into betrayers but I want to make it clear that the voters are not betrayers," he said and added, "We don't accept this mandate. We are even sure that people would also not accept the mandate. This can't be the people's mandate."

Buoyant by the win, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya posted on X, "The BJP led MahaYuti’s emphatic win in Maharashtra was coded in the Lok Sabha results. All that one had to do was to look at the numbers dispassionately. This was an election, in which the BJP and its alliance partners had a dominant vote share and presence across Maharashtra."

In Jharkhand, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress alliance, which is aiming to return to power in consecutive terms, was locked in a close contest with the BJP-led coalition since morning but improved its lead over the saffron party later.

As per last update, JMM-Congress-led INDIA is leading in 51 seats while the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is ahead in 29 seats while Others 1.

Jharkhand CM and JMM chief Hemant Soren | Photo courtesy: Hemant Soren Facebook page

Wayanad

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is leading by over three lakh votes in the bypoll to Kerala's Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, making her electoral debut.

She contested from the seat which was won by her brother and Congress top leader Rahul Gandhi for two consecutive terms in 2019 and 2024.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during Wayanad campaign | Photo courtesy: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Facebook page

The Congress general secretary became the candidate after Rahul resigned keeping Gandhi bastion Rae Bareli, the other seat he won in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

West Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) swept the six assembly byelections 6-0, warding off the criticisms it had faced over the RG Kar rape-murder case.

Mamata Banerjee during her recent visit to North Bengal | Photo courtesy: Mamata Banerjee Facebook page

The byelections were held in Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, Taldangra, Sitai and Madarihat on November 13.

All seats except Madarihat (which was last won by the BJP) were in the TMC's kitty.