As Maharashtra gets ready for the upcoming Assembly elections, which are scheduled to happen by mid-November 2024, there is a lot of anticipation and strategic manoeuvring in the political world. The recent Lok Sabha election results have changed the political landscape in a big way, which is important for understanding what is happening.
There was a resounding victory for Maha Vikas Aghadi.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which is made up of the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), won 30 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats, which was a huge majority. This result has not only given them more confidence, but it has also put them in a good situation for the upcoming Assembly elections. People got tired of religious politics and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the BJP didn’t do anything about the problems that farmers were having, which led to the MVA’s success [1, 2].
Problems the BJP is facing and fighting within the party
The BJP used to be the most powerful party in Maharashtra, but now there is disagreement within the party and anger from the people. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis admitted that the party had not done enough to solve farmers’ complaints, especially in rural areas like Vidarbha and Marathwada, which had a big effect on their chances of winning the election. The party’s calls for unity have also failed, making people more tired of politics that cause fights. After the election loss, Fadnavis said that he might step down, which suggests that there might be changes in the party leadership as they get ready for the Assembly elections[2, 5].
Raj Thackeray’s Rise as a Wild Card
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, is getting back into politics and wants to run for more than 200 seats. His new activities could break up both big alliances by making Hindutva supporters and Maratha communities vote for different candidates. This new event makes things even more complicated in an election season that was already very close. Raj Thackeray wants to get his party back into power in major cities, where it has done well in the past[1, 4].
The Maratha Reservation Squabble
The demand for Maratha reservations is another important problem that is influencing political conversation. Manoj Jarange Patil, a well-known activist for this cause, has put more pressure on the government by going on hunger strikes and holding public protests. Both the NDA and the MVA are on high alert because of what he did. Unresolved requests could make voters choose candidates who support Maratha interests[3, 4].
What This Means for the Way Politics Work
The upcoming elections for the Assembly will be a key battlefield for both sides. The MVA wants to use its recent wins and the public’s dislike of the NDA’s leadership to its advantage. On the other hand, the NDA is working to rebuild its support and deal with key problems that have turned voters off.
The BJP is having problems within itself, and Raj Thackeray could steal votes, which could make the voters less united. This could be good for smaller parties and independents, who can win over voters who are unhappy with both big alliances[2, 5].
Conclusion
As Maharashtra’s Assembly elections get closer, the way that established parties and newcomers like Raj Thackeray interact will have a big impact on how the state is run in the future. Which alliance wins in the end will depend on how voters react to ongoing problems like farm distress and community politics. Both big alliances are likely to step up their campaigns in the next few weeks because there is a lot at stake [1, 3]. This is a very important time in Maharashtra’s political history.
Referral:
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/political-heat-rises-in-maharashtra-as-parties-invoke-aurangzeb-and-abdali/article68513080.ece
[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/maharashtra/maharashtra-elections-political-parties-special-request-to-ec-before-announcing-polls/articleshow/113764360.cms
[3] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/maharashtra-politics
[4] https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/ruling-bjp-sena-ncp-herd-mlas-into-hotels-as-maharashtra-on-brink-of-another-political-drama-9447837/
[5] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/maharashtra-elections-ajit-pawar-vs-sharad-pawar-ncp-bjp-congress-maha-game-on-in-maharashtra-what-shifting-political-landscape-means/articleshow/111835857.cms
[6] https://frontline.thehindu.com/election-2024/maharashtra-lok-sabha-election-2024-sharad-pawar-uddhav-balasaheb-thackeray-pm-modi-maha-vikas-aghadi/article68262094.ece
[7] https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/maharashtra-politics-more-than-that-meets-the-eye/article68296630.ece
[8] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/leading-ncp-a-huge-responsibility-mahayuti-seat-sharing-talks-moving-positively-ajit-pawar/articleshow/112556851.cms
