MUMBAI: The counting of votes is in progress for the 288-member assembly elections in Maharashtra. The ruling Mahayuti is leading in 219 seats, totally dominating the polls. Currently, the Congress-led Mahavikas Aghadi is leading in 55 seats while other parties were earlier leading in 13 seats. NDA has already started celebrations in the state.

The Maharashtra assembly election has been fiercely contested this time compared to previous years. MVA which was in governance during last term had to stumble midway after a faction led by Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde jumped ship. Since then, the rivalry has known no bounds. This election is also pivotal for Uddhav Thackeray and his clan. With NDA now coming to power, there are rumours of a change in the chief minister's face and in all likelihood, Devendra Gangadharrao Fadnavis is expected to get back at the helm.

All eyes are on constituencies including Worli where Milind Deora (Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde) is leading against Aditya Thackeray (Shiv Sena UBT) and Sandeep Deshpande (MNS). Baramati witnessed the fight between Ajit Pawar and his grandson Yugendra Pawar. In Nagpur South West, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Congress's Praful Gudadhe have sought a mandate. In Maharashtra, four of the exit polls predicted a continuation of power for the Mahayuthi alliance. Three agencies have weighed in on the possibility of a hung assembly.