The residents of Maharashtra and experts in politics have never witnessed such an exciting and tightly contested state election. Every seat in this election is closely contested. In the upcoming assembly elections, the political standing and future of several seasoned politicians are also on the line.
This state election holds significance as 6 major political parties are competing in the polls. Several minor parties have also added excitement to certain races. In this scenario, the Mahayuti and the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are locked in a intense political battle to secure the majority.
Following the separation of Shiv Sena and NCP, there has been a significant shift in the political landscape of the state. BJP remains a major player in Maharashtra politics, tasked once more with forming a government by leading the alliance, while MVA is swiftly gaining power in the state post Lok Sabha election results.
Voting for all 288 assembly seats in the state is scheduled for November 20th. Vote tallying will take place on November 23. The ruling coalition in Maharashtra, led by the Mahayuti alliance, consists of the BJP, Shiv Sena under Eknath Shinde, and NCP under Ajit Pawar. The MVA opposition comprises Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress.
Both coalitions are investing all their efforts and resources into securing victory in the upcoming assembly elections.
Let’s discuss the six major pillars of Maharashtra’s political landscape, whose political power and reputation are on the line in this upcoming assembly election. Devendra Fadnavis is the most prominent figure of the BJP in Maharashtra. He has held the position of Chief Minister for 5 years, and his influence in state politics has surged since 2014. He is seen as having strong connections with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and RSS.
Fadnavis is tasked with enhancing BJP’s performance in the Lok Sabha elections and creating a Mahayuti government. If the BJP does well in Maharashtra, Fadnavis will gain more strength, but if the performance is bad, his political influence will diminish.
Fadnavis originates from Nagpur, where the RSS is based. Fadnavis’ main challenge in the elections is ensuring BJP wins a minimum of 100 seats. This will allow the party to maintain its position as the largest within the Mahayuti coalition and preserve its political influence.
Sharad Pawar tops the list as the most experienced and senior leader in Maharashtra politics. Despite his 60 years of political experience, he is currently involved in a tough election due to his nephew Ajit Pawar’s betrayal of the party and alliance with the BJP.
It is believed that Pawar played a key role in creating the MVA government in Maharashtra following the 2019 elections. He established the MVA government in the state by uniting parties with completely different ideologies – Shiv Sena and Congress, however he faced a setback when many MLAs and MPs sided with Ajit Pawar.
Pawar’s party participated in 10 seats in the Lok Sabha election and secured victory in 8 seats, indicating that despite Ajit Pawar’s rebellion, Sharad Pawar still maintains significant backing.
If Sharad Pawar can continue to excel in this election, he will demonstrate that his impact on Maharashtra politics is still strong even at 84 years old. Sharad Pawar’s primary aim is to secure the majority of seats in West Maharashtra and Marathwada.
Ajit Pawar has redefined his political career by going against the NCP. He needs to demonstrate that he is stronger than his uncle, Sharad Pawar. He has been granted 52 seats in the assembly elections by the Mahayuti alliance. A big challenge awaits Ajit Pawar in his hometown Baramati as he is competing against his nephew Yugendra Pawar.