The counting of votes for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly polls began on Saturday with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA leading in both politically crucial states.

In Maharashtra, NDA is ahead in 51 seats while the opposition alliance of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are leading in 10 seats.

Tight security arrangements have been made for Maharashtra where polling in the 288 constituencies was held on November 20.

The magic figure that the contesting political outfits are aiming to touch in the state is 145.

The state registered 66.05 percent polling overall.

Jharkhand, counting of votes across the 81 seats began at 8 am with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA marching ahead in 28 seats.

The INDIA alliance, which had given NDA a tough battle in the Lok Sabha polls held earlier this year, is leading in only 11 seats.

Polling was held in two phases in Jharkhand on November 13 and November 20.