Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party and its allies were set to return to power in the nation's richest state, television channels reported on Saturday, a boost for the Hindu-nationalist leader after a disappointing general election.

In a prominent battle, Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar is poised to defeat his relative, Yugendra Shrinivas Pawar, with a lead of 43,619 votes after nine rounds of counting.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde celebrated Mahayuti's performance with party workers at his official residence Varsha. Celebrations began in Jharkhand also where JMM and allies are set to win the assembly polls.

In the 81-seat Jharkhand assembly, Chief Minister Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is leading in 30 seats while its ally Congress in 14. The opposition BJP is ahead in 27 seats while the AJSU Party, LJP (Ram Vilas) and JD (U) were ahead in one seat each in the tribal-dominated state.

After a disappointing performance in Lok Sabha elections, the RSS played a significant role in the BJP-led Mahayuti's successful campaign.

With the counting of votes underway, the Election Commission of India will declare results for the Maharashtra assembly polls on Saturday. Maharashtra went to the polls on November 20 for all 288 assembly constituencies.

Big victory for BJP-led Mahayuti alliance on the cards in Maharashtra as leads suggest massive defeat for Congress-Shiv Sena(UBT)-NCP(SP) bloc - Maha Vikas Aghadi - in the Assembly election held this week.

The Mahayuti alliance, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and Congress, hopes to retain power in Maharashtra. The Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi, also comprising Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (S

In the Maharashtra 2024 assembly elections, the Mahayuti alliance comprising BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and Ajit Pawar's NCP emerged victorious. In opposition stood Maha Vikas Aghadi, which included Congress and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena.