The political landscape in the Konkan region of Maharashtra has seen a significant shift in recent years. Once a stronghold of the Congress party, the coastal belt is now dominated by the Shiv Sena, with the region divided into rival factions led by CM Eknath Shinde and former CM Uddhav Thackeray. This shift has made the region a key battleground in the upcoming Maharashtra elections in 2024.
The Konkan belt, known for its picturesque coastal stretch from Mumbai to Sindhudurg, has undergone an economic transformation in recent years. Historically dependent on money orders from migrants working in Mumbai, the region is now self-sufficient with thriving exports of fish, mangoes, and cashews. Infrastructure development, improved connectivity, and a growing entrepreneurial spirit among the youth have contributed to this transformation.
With 75 assembly seats in the region, including 36 in Mumbai, Konkan is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the outcome of the upcoming elections. The battle will primarily be between the ruling Mahayuti coalition and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. The split in the Shiv Sena has intensified competition in key areas like Thane, the home district of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Veteran politicians like Chhagan Bhujbal have noted the evolving political alignments in the region. Bhujbal, now aligned with the NCP, highlighted the significance of the coastal belt in the electoral landscape. He suggested that independent candidates could play a critical role in the upcoming elections across Maharashtra.
The rise of the Shiv Sena in Mumbai and the Konkan region has come at the expense of other political parties like the Communists and Socialists. The Sena, initially supported by the Congress in its early years, evolved into a Hindutva-based party and formed an alliance with the BJP in 1990. This alliance marked a pivotal shift in the political dynamics of the region and led to the decline of the Congress, which had long held sway in the area.
The BJP’s increasing influence in the coastal belt, particularly after the Modi wave in 2014, further weakened the Congress and bolstered regional players like the Shiv Sena and NCP. The 2019 alliance between the Congress and Shiv Sena, followed by the Sena’s split into rival factions, has added an element of uncertainty to the upcoming elections.
With the Maharashtra elections scheduled for November 20, all eyes are on the rival factions within the Shiv Sena and their leaders, Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray. The results from the Konkan region will be closely watched as they could have a significant impact on the formation of the next government in Maharashtra. Stay tuned for more updates as the election day approaches.
