Uddhav Thackeray, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, who just lost the biggest prestige battle of his life, appeared shell-shocked after the stunning reverse. Speaking to reporters this evening after the Opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi posted a result widely different from the outcome in the Lok Sabha election, he questioned how four months could bring about such a drastic difference. 

“Cannot believe Maharashtra, which listened to me as head of family during COVID, will behave with me this way… How could they (the ruling alliance) win so many seats in just a matter of four months? Where did they light candles for such a result?” said the 64-year-old. 

Claiming that the MVA rallies were better attended than that of the ruling alliance, he said, “People listened to us, not to Modi and Amit Shah. The people said they don’t need to listen to them. Did they decide to vote without listening to them?” he said, then added in a sarcastic vein, “How can an empty chair turn into votes”.

Mr Thackeray, though, brushed aside the key talking point — one that had been repeatedly underscored by the winning combine — has it now been proved “Who is the real Shiv Sena”?  “For the last many years, we have not received a decision on the party name and election symbol,” he said, firmly shunting the ball towards the courts, where the matter is pending.

The rebel faction of Mr Shinde, which pitched the electoral battle as a test of “Who is the real Shiv Sena” lost no time in announcing it as an ideological victory. 

The BJP and its allies’ victory came on the heels of the party’s spectacular performance in Haryana amid what many mis-read as massive anti-incumbency against the Nayab Singh Saini government and expected a Congress victory. 

Mr Thackeray, though, put a different  spin on the matter. 

“A few years ago, (BJP chief) JP Nadda had said there will only be one party. It seems that they are moving in the same direction — one party one nation,” he said. “I would tell people not to lose hope,” he added. 

The Sena UBT chief, though did not blame the Electronic Voting Machines. “Some people are saying that EVM is behind this victory. I say if people have accepted it then I have no problem,’ he added.

Mr Thackeray’s Sena (UBT) has won 20 of the 89 seats it contested, way below Eknath Shinde faction’s 57 of 80.  Mahayuthi — the ruling alliance of Mr Shinde’s Sena, Ajit Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party and the BJP — are ahead on 236 of Maharashtra’s 288 seats.

The massive reverses for the Maha Vikas Aghadi come barely six months after the alliance’s sparkling performance in the Lok Sabha election, which many said, had made clear the voters’ disapproval of the political tumult of the last two years — split in Shiv Sena followed by the collapse of theUddhav Thackeray government, and the subsequent split in the Nationalist Congress Party of Sharad Pawar.

Elon Musk on Sunday praised the efficiency of India’s vote-counting process and slammed the prolonged delays in parts of the United States, particularly California. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Musk applauded India’s ability to count 640 million votes in just one day after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, contrasting it with the sluggish vote tallying in California for the US presidential elections, which remains unfinished nearly 20 days after voting began on November 5. 

Responding to a post that carried a screenshot of a media report titled ‘How India counted 640 million votes in a day’, the Tesla and SpaceX chief wrote, “India counted 640 million votes in 1 day. California is still counting votes”

India counted 640 million votes in 1 day.

California is still counting votes 🤦‍♂️ https://t.co/ai8JmWxas6

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2024

India conducted its Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, involving over 900 million eligible voters. Of these, a record-breaking 642 million people cast their votes. Despite the sheer scale, results were declared within a single day of counting.

How India Counted The Votes

Through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs): Used since 2000, these devices ensure rapid and accurate counting.

Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT): Introduced to enhance transparency, the VVPAT system produces a paper slip for every vote cast, allowing for verification if needed.

Additionally, India’s 543 parliamentary constituencies conduct counting simultaneously, overseen by the Election Commission of India (ECI).  According to Supreme Court guidelines, postal ballots are processed and counted before EVM votes are unsealed. Under the supervision of Returning Officers, votes are tallied in centralised locations, and results are declared after each round.
Even during state elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand last week, India managed to count nearly 90 million votes in just a few hours. Maharashtra alone, with a population four times that of California, delivered results with remarkable efficiency.

Why The Delay In California 

Vote counting in the United States – particularly in states like California – often stretches over weeks. California, the most populous US state, reported delays in its November 5 presidential election, with more than 300,000 ballots still uncounted weeks later. This has drawn criticism not only from Mr Musk but also from voters and analysts who question the system’s efficiency.

California conducts most of its elections by mail. Processing these ballots involves multiple steps like Signature verification on ballot envelopes, opening and sorting ballots before they can be tallied, etc.
Unlike India’s centralised oversight by the ECI, the US relies on state and local election offices, each with its own laws and resources.

Kennedy’s plans to ban dyes in cereals and fluoride in water could get major pushback from the food industry. 

​Kennedy’s plans to ban dyes in cereals and fluoride in water could get major pushback from the food industry.