The results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections turned out to be very important for Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, led by the Shiv Sena and the opposition Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. Shinde’s Shiv Sena, which contested on 81 seats, won 57 seats, defeating its rival Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray on 36 seats, while on the other hand, MVA’s ally Shiv Sena (UBT), Despite competing for 95 seats, it won only 20. It could win seats. While the Mahayuti alliance won 230 of 288 seats with an overwhelming majority, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was reduced to just 46 seats. This election was not only a show of force between the two factions of the Shiv Sena, but also saw a fight for supremacy between the Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar factions within the NCP.
Shiv Sena (Shinde) vs Shiv Sena (UBT): Who won?
Shinde’s Shiv Sena contested 81 seats and won 57 seats, while Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) won only 20 seats despite fielding candidates for 95 seats. The Shinde faction directly defeated Shiv Sena (UBT) with 36 seats.
Shinde’s big bet and his electoral victory
Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022 and allied with the BJP, had also changed the party’s name and electoral symbol ‘bow and arrow’ in his favor after becoming Minister Major. This rebellion divided the Shiv Sena into two factions, but in this election Shinde showed that the people of the state trust his leadership. While the Shinde faction won majority of the seats, the Uddhav faction had to face a crushing defeat.
Shinde won from Kopri-Pachpakhari seat in Thane district by a margin of 1.2 lakh votes. Minister Abdul Sattar defeated Suresh Banker in Sillod seat, while in Aurangabad Central, Pradeep Jaiswal defeated Balasaheb Thorat. In rural Bhiwandi area of Thane district, Shankar More of the Shinde faction defeated Mahadev Ghatal of the Shiv Sena (UBT).
The crushing defeat of the Uddhav group
Shiv Sena (UBT) won only 20 seats, including the key Worli seat. Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aditya Thackeray defeated Milind Deora, who quit the Congress and joined the Shiv Sena. From Dindoshi, Sunil Prabhu showed the path of defeat to Sanjay Nirupam, while from Mahim, Mahesh Sawant defeated Sada Saravankar and reached the assembly. Sunil Raut defeated the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from Vikhroli.
Mahavikas Aghadi also suffered a crushing defeat
The MVA had dreamed of returning to power in the state, but the Congress-NCP (Sharad Pawar) and Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance was reduced to just 46 seats. Shinde’s grand alliance of BJP and Shiv Sena won an overwhelming majority by winning 230 of 288 seats. The BJP won 132 seats, the Shinde faction won 57 seats and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP won 41 seats.
Shiv Sena (UBT) rally
Uddhav Thackeray’s party could win only 20 seats. From the Worli seat, Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aditya Thackeray defeated Milind Deora, who quit the Congress and joined the Shiv Sena. While in Dindoshi, Sunil Prabhu won by defeating Sanjay Nirupam. Mahesh Sawant has always defeated Saravankar in Mahim.
PNC vs. PNC
There has also been a tough contest between the two NCP factions in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP won 41 seats despite contesting on 59 seats, while the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) won only 10 seats despite contesting on 86 seats.
Ajit Pawar dealt the biggest blow to Sharad Pawar in his political career by defeating his nephew Yugendra Pawar in the family stronghold Baramati by a margin of over 1 lakh votes. At the same time, Chandrakant Navghare of Ajit Pawar’s party defeated Jayaprakash Dandegaonkar in Basmath. Minister Chhagan Bhujbal defeated Manikrao Shinde of NCP (SP) in Yeola.
Great victory for Ajit Pawar group
1.Ajit Pawar gave a big surprise by defeating his nephew Yugendra Pawar by over 1 lakh votes in Baramati.
2. In Yeola, Minister Chhagan Bhujbal defeated Manikrao Shinde of NCP (SP).
3. Dnyaneshwar Katke defeated Ashok Pawar of Sirur.
4. In Parli, Minister Dhananjay Munde won a huge victory by a margin of 1.4 lakh votes.
Defeat of Sharad Pawar’s group
Sharad Pawar had appealed to the public to defeat the “traitors” of his faction, but Ajit Pawar’s faction has recorded victory even in its influential strongholds. Ajit Pawar’s candidates won in Ahmednagar and Beed districts, Sharad Pawar’s strongholds.
1. Jitendra Awhad defeated Najeeb Mulla of Mumbra-Kalwa NCP.
2. Bapusaheb Pathre defeated NCP’s Sunil Tingre from Vadgaon Sheri.
3. Madha’s Abhijeet Patil registered the win, pushing Meenal Sathe to third place.
A look at Mahayuti’s huge victory
The Mahayuti alliance achieved a clear majority by winning 230 seats. The BJP won 132 seats, while the Shinde faction won 57 seats and the Ajit Pawar faction won 41 seats.
Mahayuti Top Winners
1. Minister Uday Samant defeated Bal Mane of Ratnagiri.
2. Nilesh Rane defeated MLA Vaibhav Naik sitting with a shovel.
3.Deepak Kesarkar defeated Rajan Tila of Sawantwadi.
What do the Maharashtra election results say?
The Mahayuti’s strong organizational and propaganda base weakened the MVA, while lack of coordination within the MVA and lack of effective leadership also led to its defeat. It was also clear in this election that the public voted for Shiv Sena (Shinde) considering it as the real Shiv Sena. At the same time, Ajit Pawar’s strength has increased within the NCP, while Sharad Pawar’s influence appears to be declining. Mahayuti’s performance demonstrated the strong control of BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde).
This election has been decisive in the politics of Maharashtra. This victory is a big achievement for Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, while Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar will have to rethink their strategies. In the near future new equations will be seen in State policy.
These results have also expressed confidence in the grand political alliance of Maharashtra. Shinde scored a big victory in the ongoing debate over the legacy of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. These election results have completely changed the political equations in Maharashtra. After the vast majority of the Mahayuti, BJP and Shinde factions will continue to have a strong hold on the state in the coming years, the results this time have given a big and clear message.
