Sun Nov 24 06:28:07 UTC 2024: ## BJP-led Coalition Sweeps Maharashtra Assembly Elections

**Mumbai, India –** The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, winning a commanding 230 out of 288 seats. The results saw the victory of all BJP ministers who contested, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and prominent party leaders like Ashish Shelar and Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

While the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) saw wins for Aaditya Thackeray and Varun Sardesai, several prominent Congress leaders suffered defeat. Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Congress Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat, and AICC Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakre were among the high-profile Congress losses. Other notable losses included Shiv Sena’s Shaina NC and Milind Deora, and MNS debutant Amit Thackeray.

The election also saw some interesting family dynamics play out. Ajit Pawar defeated his grandnephew, while Sreejaya Chavan, daughter of former CM Ashok Chavan, secured a victory for the BJP. Conversely, Dhiraj Deshmukh (son of late CM Vilasrao Deshmukh) and Ruturaj Patil (nephew of Satej Patil) lost their respective races. NCP-SCP’s Rohit Pawar, another grandnephew of Sharad Pawar, emerged victorious. Swara Bhasker’s husband, Fahad Ahmad, was defeated by Sana Malik, daughter of Nawab Malik.

Several debutants also contested, with varying degrees of success. The BJP’s win highlights a significant shift in the state’s political landscape, solidifying the Mahayuti’s grip on power. The Congress’s poor showing signals a need for introspection and strategic re-evaluation.

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