SPLIT VERDICT

Most exit polls show BJP-led Mahayuti ahead in Maharashtra but it's going to be a tight finish in Jharkhand between NDA and INDIA

Several exit polls on Wednesday gave a clear edge to the BJP-led alliances in Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly polls while some put the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition ahead in the western state.

Axis MyIndia was the only one to predict victory for the Congress-JMM alliance in Jharkhand with 53 seats out of 81 as against only 25 for BJPled NDA and three seats for others.

Exit polls were out soon after the close of polling in Maharashtra and the second phase of voting in Jharkhand, predicting victory of the BJPled Mahayuti government in Maharashtra and the NDA in Jharkhand.

In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, 145 is the majority mark, while it is 81-member 41 in the Jharkhand Assembly. The BJPShiv-Sena-NCP alliance is in power in Maharashtra while JMM-Congress is ruling in Jharkhand.

Counting of votes would take place on November 23 for the single-phase Maharashtra election held on Wednesday and the two-phased voting in Jharkhand on November 13 and 20.