Sun Nov 24 04:47:50 UTC 2024: ## Landslide Victory for BJP-Led Mahayuti in Maharashtra Assembly Elections
**Mumbai, November 23, 2024** – The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a resounding victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, winning 233 out of 288 seats, according to final figures released by the Election Commission. This marks an unprecedented electoral sweep not seen since the 1980s. The BJP alone won 132 seats.
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar), and Congress, won only 50 seats, describing the Mahayuti’s triumph as “unexpected and unimaginable.” Uddhav Thackeray, leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), questioned the public’s support for the Mahayuti, citing unresolved issues like the plight of soybean farmers, industrial migration to Gujarat, women’s safety concerns, inflation, and unmet demands for crop loan waivers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attributed the Mahayuti’s success to a spirit of unity, encapsulated in the slogan “Ek hain toh safe hain” (united we remain safe). Mahayuti leaders cited the success of the “Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana” (My Daughter, My Sister Scheme), outreach to smaller communities, improved internal coordination, increased women voter turnout, and the influence of the RSS.
The BJP’s strong performance was particularly evident in Vidarbha, where it won approximately 37 of 62 seats. Nagpur district, home to the RSS headquarters, saw a complete BJP sweep. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, who retained his seat by a significant margin, highlighted the BJP’s strong showing in Vidarbha, contrasting it with pre-election predictions of defeat. BJP president J.P. Nadda hailed the victory as “historic,” reflecting public endorsement of Prime Minister Modi’s vision. He also criticized Uddhav Thackeray for betraying the 2019 mandate.
Several candidates who switched parties before the election suffered defeats, suggesting voter disapproval of political opportunism. A notable intra-party rivalry played out between the two NCP factions, led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, with Ajit Pawar’s NCP (a constituent of Mahayuti) winning a significant number of seats.
The Congress, a part of the MVA, expressed surprise at the results, attributing their loss to “targeted manipulation” by the BJP. Rahul Gandhi, however, celebrated the JMM-led alliance’s victory in Jharkhand. Various Chief Ministers across India congratulated the BJP on its Maharashtra win.
The Mahayuti alliance is expected to form the government within three days. While the BJP secured the most seats, internal discussions within the alliance will determine the next Chief Minister. However, early indications point towards Devendra Fadnavis’s potential appointment. The outgoing Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, won his seat by a large margin. Several high-profile Congress leaders, including former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, faced defeat.
The election saw a significant increase in voter turnout compared to 2019. While the Mahayuti celebrated its victory, the MVA expressed concerns about the results and vowed to investigate. The high voter turnout and significant shift in favor of the Mahayuti alliance dominated the narrative of the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024.
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