The Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra have seen a significant shift in the political landscape, with Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar’s factions emerging as the clear winners. The Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have allied with the Congress, and their combined strength has given them a strong lead in the state.
As of 2 pm, Team Thackeray is leading on 11 Maharashtra seats, while Mr Pawar’s NCP is ahead on 7 seats. In contrast, their breakaway factions, led by Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, are leading on 5 and 1 seats, respectively.
Overall, the INDIA alliance is ahead in 29 seats, while the BJP is leading in 18 seats. This marks a significant dent in the NDA’s performance in the state compared to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
The political landscape in Maharashtra has undergone significant changes since the 2019 polls. The BJP and Shiv Sena were in an alliance then, winning 41 out of 48 seats. The NCP won four seats, and the Congress one. However, the alliance fell apart over the Chief Minister’s post, leading to the formation of a new government with the BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena.
The fights of both leaders, Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, have paid off in the polls. Mr Thackeray’s alliance with the NCP and Congress has given him a strong foothold in the state, while Mr Pawar’s battle to maintain his party’s identity has also been successful.
The trends so far indicate a significant boost for the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which will be crucial for the state polls later this year. The alliance’s performance will give it a strong morale boost as it prepares for the upcoming elections.
Addressing the media, Mr Pawar said that this election represents change in the country and Maharashtra has played a big role. “I am proud of the people of Maharashtra,” he said, adding that the INDIA alliance leaders will hold a meeting tomorrow to discuss their next steps.
