Election Results 2024: The counting of votes for 288-members seat legislative assembly elections in Maharashtra is at a full-swing on November 23, 2024. Since the day falls on a weekend, many would be looking to spend their day with their favourite alcohol in the state. However, November 23 is declared a dry day! But there is a twist to it as well.

Dry Day On November 23:

Selling liquor is prohibited on Saturday, November 23 in Maharashtra, especially the financial hub Mumbai and other cities. However, the prohibition on sale of alcohol is levied till 6:PM on the day results will be declared, as per Election Commission of India.

The ECI had earlier directed )State Excise Department to monitor production, distribution, sale and storage of liquor and inducements in the form of free goods during the election process.

Also, for the purpose of maintaining purity of elections, the Election Commission of India has issued a Standard Operating Procedure for Flying Squads and Static Surveillance Teams, constituted for keeping vigil over excessive campaign expenses, distribution of items of bribe in cash or in kind, movement of illegal arms, ammunition, liquor, or antisocial elements etc. in the constituencies during election process.

Accordingly, these restrictions are imposed to ensure public order during the election period. Notably, a dry day usually takes place on big events like elections or national holidays like Republic Day and Independence Day apart from religious or other events like Gandhi Jayanti across India.

Dry Day means that no shops, restaurants, or clubs will sell any sort of liquor in the cities. However, Dry Day varies from state to state.

Maharashtra Election 2024 Results:

As per the update of Election Commission of India, polling for 288 ACs in Maharashtra recorded an approximate voter turnout of 65.02% during the assembly polls on November 20.

As per the Election Commission of India, at the time of writing, the BJP party had a lead with 126 seats in the Maharashtra assembly election, while the home-ground party Shiv Sena followed in second with 55 seats. Furthermore, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Indian National Congress (INC), both part of Congress, won 39 seats and 21 seats respectively. Lastly, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) won 18 seats.

The results will be announced on November 23, 2024.

Story first published: Saturday, November 23, 2024, 13:38 [IST]