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The recent Maharashtra assembly election results have sent shockwaves through the Indian political landscape. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance achieved a resounding victory, securing a staggering 230 out of 288 seats – a remarkable three-fourths majority. This represents a significant turnaround from the Lok Sabha elections six months prior, where the same alliance suffered a setback. The BJP itself achieved its best-ever performance in the state, winning 132 seats, surpassing its previous record of 122 in 2014. This victory solidifies Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis's position as a strong contender for the chief ministership. Conversely, the Congress party experienced its worst-ever showing in Maharashtra, winning a mere 16 seats – a stark contrast to its historical dominance in the state. This dramatic shift underscores a fundamental realignment of political power within the state.
A key factor contributing to the Mahayuti's success was the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a cash transfer scheme providing monthly stipends to underprivileged women. This initiative, coupled with the consolidation of OBC votes and a pro-Hindutva stance, proved to be a potent combination. The scheme, mirroring Madhya Pradesh's Ladli Behna Yojana, delivered stipends to over 2.4 crore women before voting day. This initiative, along with free gas cylinders and free higher education for girls, significantly impacted voter turnout, especially among women, which increased by six percentage points compared to 2019.
The election results also served to legitimize the factions led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. Shinde's Shiv Sena faction secured 57 seats, dwarfing the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena's 20 seats. Similarly, Ajit Pawar's NCP faction won 41 seats, compared to Sharad Pawar's 10. This outcome casts a shadow over Uddhav Thackeray's political future, having lost control of his father's party's traditional voter base to a non-Thackeray leader. For Sharad Pawar, the veteran politician known for his pragmatic political maneuvering, this result presents an existential crisis, potentially marking the end of his party as he envisioned it. The Mahayuti's success also stemmed from strategic counter-moves to address farmer concerns and opposition challenges in various regions of the state. They successfully countered the issues raised in Vidarbha and Marathwada regarding low crop prices by offering support to MSP and free power schemes.
The Mahayuti's impressive performance was evident across various regions. In Vidarbha and Marathwada, where farmer discontent was expected to harm the government, the alliance emerged victorious. They effectively neutralized opposition attempts to exploit this issue by offering measures such as price support for crops. In Marathwada, despite earlier setbacks during the Lok Sabha elections due to Maratha quota agitations, the impact of these agitations waned during the assembly polls, and a counter-consolidation of OBC votes helped the BJP. Similarly, in North Maharashtra, where the government faced criticism regarding onion exports, export restrictions were lifted, and this move also proved beneficial. Western Maharashtra, where internal clashes within the NCP were anticipated, saw Ajit Pawar's faction dominating, primarily due to the influence of his loyalists within the cooperative network.
The Mahayuti's consistent dominance extended to Konkan and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, mirroring their success in the Lok Sabha elections. BJP's strong performance in Mumbai, traditionally a Shiv Sena stronghold, further highlights the scale of their victory. While Sena (UBT) managed a respectable 10 seats in Mumbai, including the Mahim seat where Shiv Sena Bhavan is located, they were significantly outperformed by the BJP and Shinde-led Sena factions. Ultimately, the Mahayuti's strategic outreach to women voters, coupled with their welfare schemes, played a decisive role in their resounding triumph. The remarkable increase in female voter turnout, exceeding expectations, reinforces the impact of these schemes, underlining the crucial role women voters played in shaping the electoral outcome. The results underscore not only the BJP's dominance but also the significant shifts in the political landscape of Maharashtra, creating a new power dynamic for years to come.