Sharad Pawar, a prominent leader in Maharashtra politics and a key figure in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, recently expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) underwhelming performance in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. The MVA, comprising Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray, and the Congress party, emerged victorious with 30 out of 48 seats, compared to BJP’s nine.
Pawar’s acknowledgment of Modi’s role was delivered with a hint of irony, noting that wherever the Prime Minister campaigned, the MVA coalition saw success. This statement was seen as a subtle way of attributing the BJP’s defeat to Modi’s personal involvement in campaigning.
The BJP’s disappointing outcome led to Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, offering his resignation, though it was declined by the party’s central leadership. This electoral setback underscored the MVA coalition’s strength and posed challenges for the BJP ahead of state assembly elections later in the year.
Looking ahead, leaders from the MVA coalition expressed optimism about replicating their Lok Sabha success in the upcoming assembly polls. The coalition, which came together to uphold democratic values and counter BJP’s influence, aims to capitalize on their current momentum to bring about a change in power in Maharashtra.
The political landscape in Maharashtra has been marked by shifting alliances and internal divisions within parties like Shiv Sena and NCP. Ajit Pawar’s defection to the BJP ahead of previous elections had caused a split within the NCP, highlighting the volatility and strategic manoeuvres typical of Maharashtra politics.
Since forming the MVA coalition after the 2019 assembly elections, the alliance has navigated challenges and maintained stability, positioning itself as a formidable force against the BJP’s dominance in the state.
