Maharashtra Exit Polls 2024 Live Updates: BJP set to be largest party with 20+ seats, Uddhav's Sena in second with 11, India Today-C Voter predicts

Home to India's financial capital, Maharashtra has likely voted the BJP to power in over 20 of the state's 48 seats, with the Uddhav Thackeray faction set to place second with 9-11 seats. The Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena, allied with the BJP, is likely to win 8-10 seats, while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP could end up with one or two seats.

The rest of the INDIA bloc is likely to have a poor showing in the state, with the Congress likely to win only three to four seats, with the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP winning 3-5 seats.

Maharashtra, boasting 48 Lok Sabha seats, ranks as the second most influential state in the lower house of Parliament after Uttar Pradesh. Renowned for its economic strength, cultural richness, and historical importance, Maharashtra significantly influences the nation's political scene.

The state has seen tumultous politics in the past two years with the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party both being broken up and facing a struggle to prove their authenticity, with factions of both eventually moving towards the BJP-alliance in the state.

Maharashtra Lok Sabha Election 2024: Phases
Despite having 48 Lok Sabha seats, Maharashtra's elections will be conducted in five phases, following the trend of previous elections.

Phase 1: April 19
Ramtek, Nagpur, Bhandara-Gondia, Gadchiroli-Chimur and Chandrapur

Phase 2: April 26
Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Wardha, Yavatmal Washim, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani

Phase 3: May 7
Raigad, Baramati, Osmanabad, Latur, Solapur, Madha, Sangli, Satara, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, Kolhapur and Hatkanangle.

Phase 4: May 13
Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Raver, Jalna, Aurangabad, Maval, Pune, Shirur, Ahmednagar, Shirdi and Beed

Phase 5: May 20
Mumbai North, Mumbai North-West, Mumbai North-East, Mumbai North-Central, Mumbai South-Central, Mumbai South, Dhule, Dindori, Nashik, Palghar, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Thane.