BJP seems headed back to office with strong majorities in Maharashtra and Haryana, seemingly riding on effective state leadership and the overhang of this year’s Lok Sabha results, embellished by the Modi government’s decision to scrap J&K’s special status.

According to seat projections in exit polls released on Monday evening after voting ended, the BJP-Shiv Sena combine looks set to retain office in Maharashtra with numbers ranging from 166 to 244, sufficient to cross the 145-seat majority mark. Interestingly, several exit polls showed BJP close to a majority on its own, while Sena may also see a surge in its numbers, possibly aided by the positive perception of BJP and PM Narendra Modi among voters. The decision to field Sena scion Aditya Thackeray may have also enthused the party base.

BJP seems headed back to office with strong majorities in Maharashtra and Haryana, seemingly riding on effective state leadership and the overhang of this year’s Lok Sabha results, embellished by the Modi government’s decision to scrap J&K’s special status.

According to seat projections in exit polls released on Monday evening after voting ended, the BJP-Shiv Sena combine looks set to retain office in Maharashtra with numbers ranging from 166 to 244, sufficient to cross the 145-seat majority mark. Interestingly, several exit polls showed BJP close to a majority on its own, while Sena may also see a surge in its numbers, possibly aided by the positive perception of BJP and PM Narendra Modi among voters. The decision to field Sena scion Aditya Thackeray may have also enthused the party base.