A landslide victory reshapes the political landscape of Maharashtra
In short: The 2024 Maharashtra elections saw a massive shift in power. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory, winning 235 of the 288 seats. This result marked a significant departure from previous years, leaving the opposition alliance without a Leader of the Opposition for the first time in sixty years.
The election held on 20 November 2024 occurred against a backdrop of intense political instability. Between 2019 and 2024, Maharashtra experienced three different administrations due to shifting alliances and party splits. This included the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) following Eknath Shinde's June 2022 rebellion, and a subsequent split within the Nationalist Congress Party in July 2023 when Ajit Pawar joined the government.
Voter concerns were heavily influenced by economic pressures. In urban centers, youth unemployment for those aged 15 to 29 reached 16.8% according to April-June 2024 PLFS data. In rural areas, agricultural distress and inadequate crop prices were primary issues. To address these, the Mahayuti alliance proposed the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme, offering direct cash transfers to women, which was increased to ₹2,100 per woman to compete with the MVA's ₹3,000 pledge.
The Mahayuti's success was bolstered by broad social support. Post-poll surveys by Lokniti indicated the alliance garnered 40% of OBC votes and 30% of Maratha (including Kunbi) votes. They also secured approximately 25% of Adivasi votes and 20% of Scheduled Caste (SC) votes. Conversely, the MVA saw a decline in support, with SC voters showing fragmented patterns, including many Buddhists and former Mahars voting for parties outside the two main alliances.
Following the victory, the BJP selected Devendra Fadnavis as their candidate for chief minister on 4 December 2024. He was sworn in for his third term as chief minister on 5 December 2024.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election
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