The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled to be held in October, and senior NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil has made a bold prediction. He believes that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, consisting of Shiv Sena, Congress, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), will secure ‘more than 170 seats’ in the upcoming elections.
Patil expressed confidence in the alliance’s success, citing the people of Maharashtra’s aversion to betrayal and cheating. He emphasized that the MVA will emerge victorious and prioritize good governance by implementing concrete and long-term welfare schemes.
The political landscape in Maharashtra has seen significant shifts since the 2019 elections when the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance was in power. However, a disagreement over the chief minister’s post led to their separation. The Shiv Sena then joined forces with the Congress and NCP to form the MVA, with Uddhav Thackeray assuming the role of chief minister.
In June 2022, a rebellion within the Sena led to the collapse of the MVA government, and Eknath Shinde, with BJP’s support, became the chief minister. This faction of the Shiv Sena is recognized by the Election Commission as the ‘real’ party, while Thackeray’s group operates as Shiv Sena (UBT).
Similarly, in July of the following year, Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar’s nephew, defected from the NCP and became the deputy chief minister in the BJP-Shinde Sena government. His faction is considered the ‘real’ NCP, while Sharad Pawar’s group is known as NCP (SP).
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the MVA secured 30 out of the state’s 48 parliamentary seats, while the Mahayuti alliance (BJP-Shinde Sena-NCP) only won 17 seats. This victory further solidified the MVA’s position in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
With the upcoming assembly elections, Jayant Patil’s optimistic prediction reflects the MVA’s strong belief in securing a majority and continuing to govern Maharashtra with a focus on welfare and good governance. The political dynamics in the state are poised for another significant change, and the outcome of the elections will undoubtedly shape Maharashtra’s future.
