The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance became successful in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, upending the political landscape of the state and dealing a blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The outcome will have a big impact on Maharashtra politics going forward as well as the state’s main parties and leaders.
The MVA’s Outstanding Triumph
With the help of the Congress, Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, and Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party, the MVA alliance won an astounding thirty of Maharashtra’s forty-eight seats. The alliance’s leadership, especially Sharad Pawar, who remained in control of western Maharashtra, have benefited from this victory[1][2].
The Fall of the BJP and the Rise of Eknath Shinde
Conversely, the BJP’s total dropped from 23 seats in 2019 to just 9 seats this time around. Devendra Fadnavis, the deputy chief minister, has suffered as a result. He had pledged his party at least 30 seats[2]. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, whose Shiv Sena side won seven seats, has been strengthened in his position by the results, nonetheless. With his ability to guarantee his candidates’ victories in hard-fought contests, Shinde has shown himself to be a superior election manager than his deputy[2].
Uddhav Thackeray’s Challenges and the Congress’s Comeback
With 13 seats won and a strong comeback in Vidarbha, the Congress became the single largest party in the MVA[2]. In Maharashtra politics, the party’s standing has been reinforced by its comeback. In contrast, Uddhav Thackeray encountered difficulties in his fights with Eknath Shinde in Thane, Kalyan, and other places[2]. Nevertheless, he triumphed as the “King of Mumbai” and kept control of the metropolis.
Sharad Pawar’s Endurance and Ajit Pawar’s Underperformance
The NCP led by Ajit Pawar had a dismal strike rate, taking only 1 of the 4 seats they ran for. This includes his inability to ensure that his wife, Sunetra Pawar, wins the match against Supriya Sule, his niece and Sharad Pawar’s daughter, in Baramati, his native region[2]. Due to the failures, Ajit Pawar’s standing within the party and the administration has been undermined and questions about his leadership have been raised. Sharad Pawar, who is 84 years old, has demonstrated his political skill once more by helping the NCP (SP) win eight of the ten seats they ran for[2].
Maharashtrian Identity Is Eroding
The piece also emphasises how Maharashtrian identity is eroding and how sub-nationalism is influencing Maharashtra politics. Areas like Girgaum in south Mumbai and the Dadar-Parel-Lalbaug belt, which were once the strongholds of Marathi culture and ethos, have witnessed a notable rise in the number of inhabitants from various linguistic communities and cultures[3]. Even while groups like the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the Shiv Sena profess to represent the interests of Marathi manus, many Maharashtrians feel as though their identity is unravelling as a result of this transformation[3].
Political Dynasties’ Ascent
Rising generations of families like the Pawars, Patils, Shindes, Thackerays, and others are joining the political dynasties that abound in Maharashtra[3]. As this trend gains traction, the concentration shifts away from political necessities like ideology and representation and towards the concentration of power, command, and wealth inside the family[3].
In conclusion, Maharashtra’s Lok Sabha elections of 2024 have ushered in a new era for the state’s political landscape. Some of the most important lessons to be learnt from this crucial election include the triumph of the MVA, the ascent of Eknath Shinde, the revival of the Congress, and the deterioration of Maharashtrian identity. The political discourse and the future of Maharashtra will surely be shaped by these outcomes, especially as the state prepares for the approaching Assembly elections.
Referral:
[1] https://frontline.thehindu.com/election-2024/maharashtra-lok-sabha-election-2024-sharad-pawar-uddhav-balasaheb-thackeray-pm-modi-maha-vikas-aghadi/article68262094.ece
[2] https://www.newindianexpress.com/web-only/2024/Jun/06/maharashtra-politics-famous-five-and-what-verdict-2024-means-for-them
[3] https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/maharashtra-votes-2024-in-a-state-brimming-with-dynasties-who-speaks-for-the-maharashtrian-101714714999128.html
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycMqCHUTYws
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3SjX37pyG8
[6] https://twitter.com/nistula/status/1787690598561935623
[7] https://mczma.gov.in/content/177th-meeting-mczma-scheduled-23rd-august-2024
[8] https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jeewan-Rajpurohit/publication/365013393_NIPM_Research_Compendium-compressed-_Techno_-_HR_for_organizational_efficacy_in_National_Cadet_Corps/links/63632a1d37878b3e877987c7/NIPM-Research-Compendium-compressed-Techno-HR-for-organizational-efficacy-in-National-Cadet-Corps.pdf
