The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has achieved a commanding victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, retaining power with a remarkable lead in 230 of the state’s 288 assembly seats.
This triumph solidified the coalition's dominance while dealing a severe blow to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which managed to stay ahead in only 50 constituencies. The outcome underscores the continued support for the BJP-led alliance under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Devendra Fadnavis, a key architect of this electoral success, is being hailed as the likely Chief Minister for a third term. Speculations suggest the swearing-in ceremony may take place as early as Monday, possibly at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where Fadnavis assumed office a decade ago.
As vote counting proceeds in the remaining constituencies, the BJP has already secured a strong foothold, with the Election Commission’s latest figures showing 35 wins and leads in 78 seats.
The Shiv Sena secured 27 seats and is leading in 29, while the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won 25 and leads in 16.
The opposition alliance, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP, has faced a crushing defeat.
Notably, Congress leaders such as Prithviraj Chavan and Balasaheb Thorat lost in their respective constituencies. Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Shraddha Jadhav also lost to BJP veteran Kalidas Kolambkar, who won his ninth consecutive election.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis credited the victory to the support of voters, the BJP’s cohesive strategy, and the party’s governance record. Fadnavis dismissed opposition efforts to spread divisive narratives, asserting that voters rejected such tactics.
He also highlighted initiatives like the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, which he believes played a pivotal role in strengthening voter confidence, particularly among women.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde lauded the results as historic, claiming that they reaffirmed the public’s trust in the BJP-led coalition. Union Home Minister Amit Shah personally congratulated Fadnavis for orchestrating this impressive performance.
Meanwhile, BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde emphasised the unity and teamwork of Fadnavis, Shinde, and Ajit Pawar in securing this landslide victory.
The electoral defeat for the MVA has raised questions about its future. The alliance may not even qualify for the Leader of Opposition position in the state assembly, as no single party within the coalition has reached the 10% threshold of total assembly seats required for the designation.
The final voter turnout for the elections, conducted on November 20, stood at 66.05%, an increase from 61.1% in the previous assembly polls. This higher turnout reflects a robust electoral engagement, influenced by the BJP-led coalition’s extensive grassroots campaigns and voter outreach initiatives.
Political observers have pointed out that the BJP's strategic seat-sharing arrangement within the Mahayuti alliance—149 seats for the BJP, 81 for the Shiv Sena, and 59 for Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction—helped consolidate their position.
In contrast, the opposition alliance, which included Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction, failed to replicate such coordination, resulting in fragmented support.
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