Mahayuti vs MVA: Battle Over "Fraud" Exit Polls as Maharashtra Awaits Election Results

As Maharashtra awaits the results of the 2024 Assembly elections, the verbal sparring between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) continues, especially over the controversial exit polls. According to five out of nine exit polls reviewed by NDTV, the Mahayuti, led by the BJP and the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), is expected to secure a clear victory. However, three polls suggest no clear winner, and one gives the MVA a surprise win.

Exit polls have often been criticized for their inaccuracy, as seen in the Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir elections, where predictions turned out to be wrong. Despite these flaws, political leaders from both sides are using them to fuel their claims of victory. Devendra Fadnavis, the outgoing Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, pointed to the increased voter turnout—which stood at 65%, up from 61.74% in 2019—as a sign that the BJP-led coalition would benefit. He argued that a higher turnout typically favors the incumbent government.

On the other hand, Sanjay Raut, a key leader of the MVA and spokesperson for Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena, dismissed the exit polls as “fraud.” He cited past instances where predictions had been wrong and asserted that the MVA would win 160-165 seats in Maharashtra, based on the anger against the BJP alliance.

With 288 seats in total, the majority mark stands at 145. Exit polls indicate that the BJP-led Mahayuti could secure around 150 seats, while the MVA might win 125. The Electoral Edge exit poll is the only outlier, forecasting a win for the MVA with 150 seats.

As political tension builds ahead of the vote count this Saturday, all eyes are on Maharashtra, where the outcome of this election could reshape the state's political landscape.