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.

The BJP-led Mahayuti coloured Maharashtra a vivid saffron on Saturday as it swept aside the MVA for a landslide win while the opposition INDIA bloc retained Jharkhand as voters in both states gave the parties in power an emphatic thumbs up.

While the Mahayuti is leading in over 200 seats, the BJP, which fielded 149 candidates, is ahead in 125. On the other hand, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is leading in only 60 seats.

The Election Commission will begin counting of votes for Maharashtra, Jharkhand at 8 am today. Exit polls have predicted a victory of Mahayuti in Maharashtra and a neck-and-neck fight between NDA and INDIA in Jharkhand.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party is headed for a victory in state elections in politically significant Maharashtra while the opposition won mineral-rich Jharkhand state

The Mahayuti alliance led by Mr Modi’s BJP is on course to win 221 of the 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra, home to India’s financial and entertainment capital Mumbai. The BJP alone is set to take more than 100 seats.

The NDA is all set to win Maharashtra against the INDIA bloc as the saffron party logs its best-ever electoral performance in the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed heartfelt gratitude after the result of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly election settled - the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance sealed a thumping victory over the Congress' Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) combine.