Maharashtra Elections 2024: In around ten days, the people of Maharashtra will elect the new state assembly. Voting will be held in 288 Legislative Assembly seats in a single phase on November 20. Votes will be counted on November 23.

The battle for Maharashtra is largely bipolar between the ruling Mahayuti party and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). THE Bharatiya Janata Festival (BJP) is in alliance with Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in power. Mahayuti banner. The Shiv Sena (UBT), the NCP (Sharad Pawar) and the Congress are part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

There are complexities within the alliances that pose challenges to both the ruling Mahayuti and the MVA.

As the countdown to polling day begins, the stakes have never been higher in Maharashtra. As major players vie for control of one of the nation’s richest states, the Nov. 20 election is more than just a battle for power: It’s a test for the legacy of leadership for many and a battle for political survival for others.

Haryana Momentum

The Maharashtra election is significant for many reasons. This will be the first parliamentary polls held after Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP retained Haryana while the National Conference-The Congress alliance bagged Jammu and Kashmir, where assembly elections were held for the first time in a decade.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP lost ground in Haryana as well as Maharashtra. The BJP won only five of the ten Lok Sabha seats in Haryana. It had won all 10 seats in the 2019 general elections. In Mahrashtra, the BJP won only nine of the 28 seats it contested, compared to 23 of the 25 seats it contested in the 2019 general elections.

But the BJP made a strong comeback in Haryana, the first parliamentary election after the general elections. The saffron won 48 of the 90 seats in Haryana, defying all exit polls. The Congress won 37 seats. In Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference won 42 seats out of 90 members. Congress 6 and BJP 29 days.

Obviously, the results in Maharashtra will test BJP’s momentum after Haryana victory. The Maharashtra elections will also be another test for the Indian bloc, as key players in the opposition alliance are in the fray here.

BJP expands its influence

According to political analysts, the BJP’s fight in Maharashtra is not directly about the Congress but rather regional players. The saffron party has long wanted to consolidate its positions in Maharashtra, where it faces challenges from regional players.

The upcoming elections will test the BJP’s ability to stay in power with the help of regional parties – the Shiv Sena and NCP factions, in this case. A victory in Maharashtra would certainly strengthen the BJP’s reach beyond its traditional strongholds in the North.

Factionalism

The five years of the outgoing Assembly were marked by political unrest. The state has had three different chief ministers. Two major parties – theShiv Senaand theNationalist Congress Party(NCP) – saw splits leading to alliances in power and opposition.

The upcoming polls are the first legislative elections in the state after the split of the two main parties. The results will reveal which faction dominates the popular base.

Clearly, the November 20 elections in Maharashtra are not just about forming the government; a larger question of redemption and supremacy of the warring factions of the Shiv Sena and the NCP is also at stake in this electoral battle.

Who is the most popular?

The result of Maharashtra Election will also indicate the influence of local leaders in the state. For example, the election is also a prestige battle for Sharad Pawar, the 84-year-old warhorse of the state.

The election will decide the future of a leader like Uddhav Thackeray, the former chief minister, who is charged with carrying on the legacy of his father Bal Thackeray after Eknath Shinde, his fellow Shiv Sena leader, revolted, divided the Shiv Sena and took over the leadership of Uddhav. -MVA-led government in Maharashtra in 2020.

The election is also being closely watched as it will also decide what awaits leaders Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. Their popularity and ability to rally supporters could be decisive in a fragmented political landscape.

Maharashtra, one of India’s richest states, faces unique economic challenges, including agrarian distress and unemployment. The outcome of the parliamentary elections will also determine how these issues will be addressed by the next government.

Among other matters, a request for Maratha ReservationAccess to government jobs and education was a major issue in this election. The Maratha community makes up around 28 percent of the state’s population and plays a role in deciding the outcome.