In Maharashtra, political battle lines are clearly drawn as the state braces for a high-stakes electoral contest. The Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP), is set to face off against the Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Indian National Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) (Shiv Sena-UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) (NCP-SP).
A particularly fierce competition is anticipated in 13 constituencies where both factions of the Shiv Sena will be going head-to-head. Additionally, the NCP factions will be competing against each other in two constituencies.
Reflecting on previous elections, the BJP emerged victorious in the 2014 Maharashtra elections, securing a majority with 23 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 18 seats and NCP with 4 seats. In the 2019 elections, the NDA consolidated its dominance by winning a majority with 41 seats. However, the recent splits in two major regional parties present Maharashtra’s voters with crucial decisions regarding their alliance preferences.
The upcoming elections promise to be a decisive moment for the state’s political landscape as alliances and rivalries take center stage.
