Mumbai/Chandigarh, October 24: The first hour trends have validated the exit poll predictions, giving the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) the edge in both Maharashtra and Haryana. The trends available by 9 am showed BJP almost crossing the majority mark in both the states, as per the initial leads. The Opposition headed by the Congress appeared a distant second. Stay tuned here for the live news updates on assembly elections results 2019.

According to ABP News, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance have maintained a lead in 157 constituencies -- the BJP ahead in 96 and the Shiv Sena in 61 constituencies. The Congress and the NCP were ahead in 26 and 35 seats, respectively.

The trends emerging on TV9 Marathi have given the BJP-Sena alliance a lead in 152 seats, whereas, the Congress-NCP coalition was said to be ahead in 71 constituencies. The MNS was said to be leading in 3 assembly segments, followed by a 1-seat lead taken by Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi.

In Haryana, the trends on NDTV showed the BJP leading in 46 constituencies -- one above the majority mark, whereas, the Congress was ahead in 14 seats. Others, including the INLD and JJP, were said to be ahead in 9 assembly segments.

Notably, the leads gathered by the news channels are based on the inputs they have received from the counting centres. The Election Commission is yet to release the first updates of Haryana. In Maharashtra, the BJP is ahead in 12 seats, the Shiv Sena on 6, followed by the Congress and NCP 3 each.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 24, 2019 09:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).