The Mahayuti alliance led by chief minister Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar has won a landslide victory in Maharashtra assembly elections. The saffron alliance has won more than 225 seats out of the total 288 seats in the state assembly.
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The BJP has crossed the 130-mark, improving its tally by 25 seats. Ajit Pawar’s NCP has won /or is leading on 41 seats. Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has won/or is leading in 54 seats. The atmosphere in the saffron camp was so ecstatic that jalebis were distributed outside the BJP office in Mumbai to celebrate victory.
On the other hand, the MVA comprising Congress, Sharad Pawar-led NCP and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena have been stunned into silence by the verdict. The jolt for Congress has been so severe that two of its giants- Balasaheb Thorat who was a front runner in the race to become CM had MVA won, and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan have both been defeated from Sangamner and Karad South Seats respectively.
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Thorat was defeated by Shinde Sena’s Rakesh Khatal and Prithviraj Chavan was defeated by BJP’s Atul Bhosale. Aditya Thackeray who was trailing in the initial rounds managed to win by over 8000 votes from Worli constituency. State congress president Nana Patole was also trailing at the time of filing this report.
Here are five key reasons for MVA’s humiliating defeat
1. Welfare schemes and development work launched by Shinde government
Eknath Shinde government launched schemes like Ladki Bahin, free electricity to farmers and an apprenticeship scheme for youth immediately after the saffron alliance’s defeat in Lok Sabha elections. These schemes appear to have become hugely popular, especially the Ladki Bahin scheme.
2. BJP’s excellent performance
The BJP has performed brilliantly in this election and the credit must go to deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. BJP used the issue of vote jihad very effectively and slogans like 'Batenge To Katenge' consolidated Hindu votes in favour of the saffron alliance.
3. Complacency of the MVA
After its splendid performance in Lok Sabha, the MVA became complacent and overconfident. There were internal differences between Shiv Sena and Congress on chief ministerial face. Sena wanted Uddhav to be declared as CM face and Congress did not want it at any cost. It kept saying that the CM would be from the party that wins the most number of seats.
4. Sharad Pawar was outsmarted by his nephew Ajit
Ajit Pawar has scored over his uncle in this round of their political fight. Ajit made sure that he gave the tickets to candidates in whom he had complete trust. He did not complain even when his colleagues parted ways with him and returned to his uncle’s NCP. Sharad Pawar’s magic also seemed to be waning as Dilip Walse Patil, a one-time close aide of Sharad Pawar who joined Ajit during the rebellion in 2023 July, won the election despite Sharad Pawar urging people to defeat him and others like him.
5. The micromanagement of the election done by BJP central leadership and the contribution of RSS workers
Central BJP leader Bhupendra Yadav had told THE WEEK at least 3 weeks before the polls that Maha Yuti was winning the election as per his team- which was traveling in Maharashtra- observation.
BJP workers had reached out to every booth and village across the state. The RSS workers also contributed by activating their networks through its Samnavaya Samitis (coordination committees) in every taluk and district.
What remains to be seen now is whether Eknath Shinde will be rewarded for leading the saffron alliance to victory or whether he has to vacate the seat for a BJP leader chosen by the central leadership in Delhi (Devendra Fadnavis is ahead in this race). Will the BJP choose a Brahmin leader once again and hand over the reins of Maharashtra to Fadnavis or will they choose a non-Brahmin and reward Maratha or OBC communities? The picture has to become clear by Monday, the last of the tenure of this state assembly.
