Voting in Maharashtra took place with enthusiasm, with the highest voter turnout in the last three decades. The contest between the Mahayuti (BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP) and Maha Vikas Aghadi (NCP(SP)-Shiv Sena(Uttar Pradesh)-Congress) alliances is a nail-biter, with five out of nine exit surveys predicting a win for the BJP-led alliance.
These elections will also be a challenge for the Shiv Sena and NCP, as some of these parties have contested the elections together. If the Maha Vikas Aghadi wins, it will have to overcome obstacles within the alliance for a main candidate. In a quiet election, a multi-crore bitcoin scam broke out, including the names of Mr Patole and NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule. Earlier, BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde was accused of a cash-for-vote scam, with the opposition claiming he had paid Rs 5 crore.