Sat Nov 23 15:04:12 UTC 2024: ## Ajit Pawar Wins Baramati in Landslide Victory; Mahayuti Sweeps Maharashtra Assembly Elections

**Pune, Maharashtra –** In a closely watched uncle-nephew contest, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar secured a resounding victory in the Baramati assembly constituency on Saturday, defeating his nephew Yugendra Pawar by a margin of over 100,000 votes. The win marks Pawar’s eighth consecutive term representing his family bastion. His victory is part of a sweeping win for the Mahayuti (BJP-Shiv Sena-Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction) coalition, which is projected to secure a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Early trends indicated a significant lead for the Mahayuti across the state, with the BJP alone projected to win well over 100 seats. Both the Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) initially claimed they would form the government, but the final results decisively favor the Mahayuti. Discussions of both alliances potentially seeking support from independent candidates were circulating earlier in the day.

The Baramati contest was one of the most highly anticipated races, drawing considerable attention due to the family rivalry. Other closely contested races included Indapur, where Datta Bharne of Ajit Pawar’s NCP defeated Harshavardhan Patil of Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction.

Several other key races across Pune saw BJP candidates secure wins. BJP’s Ramesh Kashiram Karad won Latur Rural, while Sunil Kamble won Pune Cantonment. Hemant Rasne secured victory for BJP in Kasba Peth. In contrast, the only seat won by the MVA in Pune City was Vadgaon Sheri, secured by Bapu Saheb Pathare of Sharad Pawar’s NCP.

The impact of the state government’s “Ladki Bahin Yojana,” a welfare scheme providing financial aid to women, is believed to have played a significant role in the Mahayuti’s success, according to several candidates and analysts. However, the Congress party saw a significant decrease in vote share between the April Lok Sabha elections and the November assembly elections, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction saw a dramatic increase.

While Ajit Pawar celebrated his victory with supporters in Baramati, his uncle, Sharad Pawar, saw his NCP faction secure significantly fewer seats than expected. The results highlight a major shift in the political landscape of Maharashtra, with Ajit Pawar’s faction emerging as a key player within the ruling coalition. Speculation points toward Devendra Fadnavis as the likely next chief minister.

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