The BJP-Shiv Sena coalition was on course to retain power albeit with a reduced majority in Maharashtra where the opposition Congress-NCP alliance put up a good show while the BJP-ruled Haryana ended with a hung assembly and JJP chief Dushyant Chautala likely to become the kingmaker. In the first Assembly elections after the BJP's triumph in the Lok Sabha polls in May, the party's electoral juggernaut met with some resistance in Maharashtra and Haryana with a resurgent Congress performing creditably in the northern state.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party in Haryana followed by the Congress.
The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) not only improved its performance in Maharashtra but fared even better than senior partner Congress by contesting lesser number of seats.
In Haryana, the Congress, which failed to bag even one seat in the Lok Sabha polls, won 31 of the 90 seats at stake compared to its previous tally of 15. The BJP, which had 47 seats in the outgoing 90-member house, won 40 seats. The half-way mark is 46.
All eyes were on the fledgling Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) which was floated last year by Dushyant Chautala, a former MP from Hisar, after a vertical split in the once powerful INLD following a family feud in the Chautala clan.
Here are the live updates on counting of votes in Maharashtra and Haryana and bypolls on 51 seats across 17 states:
Oct 24, 2019 19:58 (IST)
Haryana, Maharashtra Election Results 2019: In Address To Partymen, PM Mentions BJP-Shiv Sena Alliance
"BJP and Shiv Sena fought elections against each other but the people wanted us to join hands. We partnered with the Shiv Sena after the elections and ran a stable government. And even this time, the people of Maharashtra have given our alliance a complete majority," PM Modi told party workers.
Oct 24, 2019 18:57 (IST)
5 from Haryana's Chautala village make it to state legislature
Five candidates who hail from the Chautala village in Haryana and represent different parties have registered victories in the assembly elections, following the Devi Lal legacy in state politics. While two of them belong to the JJP, one each was elected on the symbol of the INLD and the Congress. One candidate was elected as an independent.
Oct 24, 2019 18:54 (IST)
UP assembly by-election results: NDA gets 6, Samajwadi Party 2; results in three seats awaited
The Samajwadi Party wrested Uttar Pradesh's Zaidpur constituency from the BJP and retained Rampur while the ruling party and its ally Apna Dal (S) won six seats, as counting continued in three other seats of the assembly bypolls on Thursday. Of the 11 seats, where bypolls were held on October 21, eight were held by the BJP while the Pratapgarh seat was held by its ally Apna Dal (Sonelal). Rampur was held by the SP and Jalalpur by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
Oct 24, 2019 18:26 (IST)
Aaditya Thackeray speaks to the media after election win
"Humbling to see the love people have given me. Please treat me the way you always have."
Oct 24, 2019 18:15 (IST)
Amit Shah indicates BJP will form next government in Haryana
BJP president Amit Shah indicated on Thursday that his party will stake claim to form the next government in Haryana after the assembly election results threw up a hung verdict. The BJP was either winning or leading in 40 seats in the elections to the 90-member state assembly, according to the latest election commission figures, falling short of the majority mark of 46.
"The (Manohar Lal) Khattar government in Haryana has made every effort for people''s welfare under the central leadership of (Narendra) Modi. I thank people for making the BJP the single-largest party and giving it another opportunity to serve them," Mr Shah said in a tweet.
Oct 24, 2019 17:54 (IST)
Haryana election results: Randeep Surjewala loses Kaithal seat to BJP's Leela Ram
Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala lost to BJP's Leela Ram from Kaithal constituency, as per results declared by the Election Commission. The three-time legislator was defeated by a margin of 1,246 votes. After trailing initially, Mr Surjewala had earned lead by a slim margin, but trailed again. His loss is a big blow to the Congress in Haryana.
