Sat Nov 23 11:13:14 UTC 2024: ## Aurangabad East Sees Tight Contest in Maharashtra Assembly Elections
**Aurangabad, Maharashtra:** Maharashtra witnessed an average voter turnout of 65% in yesterday’s Assembly elections, with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claiming this high turnout benefits the BJP. The accuracy of this claim will be revealed on November 23rd when the results are announced.
In Aurangabad East, the constituency of incumbent Minister Atul Save, voter turnout reached 60.63%. Save, seeking a third term, faces a strong challenge from AIMIM’s Imtiyaz Jaleel. The constituency is witnessing a direct contest between the Maha Vikas Aghadi and AIMIM.
Adding complexity to the race, the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) fielded Afsar Khan at the last minute, potentially splitting the Muslim vote. Further fracturing the Muslim vote is Dr. Gafar Qadri, formerly of AIMIM, now contesting on a Samajwadi Party ticket. With three major Muslim candidates and over a dozen smaller Muslim independents, a significant division of the Muslim vote is expected.
While this fragmentation benefits the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s Atul Save, the Maratha vote remains crucial. Resentment among the Maratha community towards the Maha Vikas Aghadi over reservation issues persists from the Lok Sabha elections. Congress initially fielded M.K. Deshmukh as a Maratha candidate, but his sudden withdrawal in favor of Lahushewale has fueled speculation.
Imtiyaz Jaleel, in a bid to garner Maratha support, met with Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil before the election and pledged his support for their demands, promising to work towards Maratha reservation if elected. Whether this strategy pays off remains to be seen.
While Jaleel claims 60-70% of the Muslim vote, his path to victory remains challenging. He needs significant support from Maratha and OBC voters to win. Conversely, Save relies heavily on the BJP’s OBC base but also needs some Maratha support to secure victory. The outcome will depend on how effectively both candidates mobilize their core supporters and attract voters from other communities.
First Piper 