The opposite alliances have seen a sign of victory for them in the state’s record polling in Wednesday’s Assembly elections. The BJP said the pro-incumbency rise had benefited it and its allies in the past, too. Most exit polls have given the BJP-Mahayuti a clear advantage. However, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) refused to buy the predictions and stressed that the incremental voting was for the Opposition’s victory.
 
Maharashtra recorded an average 65.11 per cent turnout, thanks to 10 out of 36 districts where over 75 per cent of voters cast exercised their franchise. Of the remaining districts, Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban and Thane were below 57 per cent, while the rest were above 60 per cent. Kolhapur district bettered its Lok Sabha figures with 76.25 per cent. Kolhapur's Karvir Assembly segment (84.79 per cent) was the highest in the state.

Students of Gurukul Art Classes paint political party leaders’ portraits at Lalbaug, on Thursday. Pic/Anurag Ahire