As the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha polls is underway, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA crossed the majority mark in early leads and the INDIA bloc above 200, defying all exit poll predictions.
BJP is ahead in 236 seats while its broader coalition NDA is leading in 299 seats. The majority mark is 272.
Meanwhile, INDIA bloc is leading on 226 seats and others on 18 seats.
INDIA bloc is making strong gains in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra and is leading on the most number of seats.
In Maharashtra, the Maha Vikas Aghadi of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SC) are ahead in 30 seats while the BJP-led Mahayuti is leading in 17 out of 40 seats.
Congress’s Rahul Gandhi is leading from Rae Bareli’s seat while Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Dinesh Pratap Singh is trailing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading followed by the Congress’ Ajay Rai from Varanasi.
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