Most exit polls and surveys have given a lead to BJP, and it may well go on to form the next governments in both Maharashtra and Haryana.
According to Chanakya, one of the few agencies to get their exit poll right on the mark during the Lok Sabha elections, this is the projection for Maharashtra:
#TCExitPoll #MaharashtraElections BJP+ 151 ± 9 Seats Shivsena 71 ± 9 Seats Congress 27 ± 5 Seats NCP 28 ± 5 Seats MNS & Others 11 ± 5 Seats
— Today's Chanakya (@TodaysChanakya) October 15, 2014
According to Chanakya, this is what the results in Haryana will look like:
#TCExitPoll #HaryanaElections BJP 52 ± 7 Seats INLD+ 23 ± 7 Seats Congress10 ± 5 Seats Others 5 ± 3 Seats
— Today's Chanakya (@TodaysChanakya) October 15, 2014
Times Now - C-Voter survey has put out a more humble forecast for BJP, and its seat-sharing prediction is as follows:
BJP -129 seats
Shiv Sena 56
Congress 43
NCP 36 seats
MNS - 12
Others - 12
In Haryana, C-Voter projects
BJP - 37
Congress: 15
INLD: 28
HJC+: 6
Others: 4
6.00 pm: Voting for the assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra ended on a mixed note, as violence marred the electoral process in several parts of Haryana and Maharashtra.
In another incident of violence in the assembly polls on Wednesday, Naxals attacked a polling party in Maharashtra.
Haryana saw a record turnout of 72.6%, more than the 70% recorded in 2009.
According to the latest figures, 65% voter turnout was recorded in Haryana till 5pm, while Maharashtra saw a 55% turnout.
5.15 pm: Haryana registered 60% voter turnout till 4 pm.
3.45 pm: Maharashtra registers 46% turnout till 3.30 pm.
3.30 pm: Clashes broke out between Jat and Dalit voters in Hisar. This assembly election seems to be marred by violence in Haryana.
3.15 pm: Half of Haryana's electorate cast their votes by 3 pm on Wednesday, as voter turnout reached 50%.
2.00 pm: Maharashtra saw a voter turnout of 30% till 1 pm, while Mumbai fell below at 21%. In Haryana, the voter turnout was 34% till 1 pm.
12.05 pm: 30% voter turnout in Haryana till noon.
11.50 am: Till 11 am, the voter turnout in Haryana was 25%. Maharashtra saw a poor 19.7% voter turnout. In Mumbai, the voter turnout till 11 am was 15%.
Assembly Polls in Pictures: Film Stars, Politicians Come Out to Vote
This election is seeing high-drama even beyond the tough battle between rival political parties in Maharashtra and Haryana. Clashes have been reported in several parts of Haryana, allegations of booth rigging have emerged, and rains have marred voting in Vidarbha and other parts of Maharashtra, with one policeman killed by lightning.
11.30 am: Cop on poll duty killed after being struck by lightning in Vidarbha, Press Trust of India reported. He was on duty at the Avdeghat polling station of Savner constituency in Vidarbha, which is being lashed by rains on polling day.
10:50am: A clash broke out between BJP and Indian National Lok Dal workers in Haryana in which two were injured. In Sirsa village in Haryana, firing took place outside a booth in which one INLD worker has reportedly been injured.
10:30am: Voting picked up in Haryana as 11.2% turnout was reported till 10am. In Maharshtra, the turnout seemed slow and reached 10% till 10am.
10am: According to an update by Hindustan Times, 10 people have been injured as lightning struck near a poll booth in Saoner constituency of Maharashtra.
9:45am: Haryana sees 6.7% voter turnout till 9am. 1.63 crore voters, including 87.37 lakh women, have been registered to vote across 16,357 polling stations in Haryana.
In Maharashtra, voter turnout was a little higher at 8% till 9am, two hours into the voting phase.
9:23am: "BJP is going to win Maharashtra elections with absolute majority", BJP state president Devendra Fadnavis told the media on Wednesday. He is touted to be the next chief minister if BJP comes to power.
BJP's Devendra Fadnavis Could be Next Maharashtra CM if Party Wins
9:20am: Rigging allegations: The BJP has alleged booth capturing in the Narnaund constituency in Haryana.
9:05am: It's a public holiday in Maharahstra for the polls, as declared by Governor C Vidyasagar Rao who has administrative powers under the Presdient's Rule in the state.
9am: Apart from the assembly polls, there is also a by-election for a lone Lok Sabha seat from Beed in Maharashtra, which fell vacant after union minister Gopinath Munde's death in June.
8:44am: Modi urges youngsters to cast their votes and make a 'record turnout'.
Urging the people of Haryana & Maharashtra to go out & cast their votes. Youngsters must show the way & ensure record turnout.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 15, 2014
8:35am: Hooda is confident that Congress will get a third term in Haryana.
"I am very confident, Congress will form government for third time," Hooda told ANI. "Lok Sabha polls are completely different from Assembly polls. Modi is not contesting for CM's post here," he said.
Voting has begun in the states of Maharashtra and Haryana for the assembly polls, as 288 seats and 90 seats respectively are up for grabs in the most crucial election after the Lok Sabha elections in May.
In Maharashtra, this is the first time in 15 years that people will not vote for any alliance, as the major parties - Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena, Congress and the NCP -- are going into the polls alone. The 25-year-old alliances of the BJP and Shiv Sena as well as of the Congress and NCP crumbled just months before the polls.
Even in Haryana, the BJP broke its alliance with the Haryana Janhit Congress and is contesting all 90 seats alone, in a bid to dethrone the incumbent Congress government headed by Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda. Indian National Lok Dal, which is headed by the jailed OP Chautala, is the third party in the battle.
In Maharashtra, erstwhile chief minister Prithviraj Chavan of the Congress faces tough competition from the BJP, for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned aggressively across the state.
