New Delhi: The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory in Maharashtra’s assembly elections, dealing a heavy blow to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and handing the Congress its worst defeat in the state. In contrast, the opposition’s INDIA bloc had a reason to celebrate in Jharkhand, where the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress alliance retained power with a commanding majority.
In Maharashtra, the Mahayuti’s combined tally reached 235 seats, while the MVA managed only 49. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats, followed by Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena (57) and Ajit Pawar’s NCP (41). In the opposition camp, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20 seats, the Congress 16, and the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP 10. The Samajwadi Party secured two seats, with other parties and independents claiming 10.
The BJP led in vote share with 26.77 per cent, followed by Congress (12.42 per cent), Shinde-led Shiv Sena (12.38 per cent), NCP (SP) (11.28 per cent), and Shiv Sena (UBT) (9.96 per cent).
Jharkhand painted a different picture for the BJP. The JMM-Congress alliance swept 56 seats, with JMM winning 34, Congress 16, RJD 4, and CPI(ML) 2. The BJP-led NDA secured 24, with the BJP winning 21. The BJP, despite losing, topped the vote share at 33.18 per cent, ahead of JMM’s 23.44 per cent and Congress’s 15.56 per cent.
Women and Muslim-majority constituencies
In Maharashtra, 21 women won assembly seats, 14 of them from the BJP. Of these, 10 were re-elected, including Manisha Chaudhari and Devyani Farande. Congress managed just one woman MLA, Jyoti Gaikwad, from the opposition camp.
In constituencies with over 35 per cent Muslim voters, the BJP won four seats, the MVA six and AIMIM one. AIMIM’s Mufti Mohammed Khalique narrowly won Malegaon Central by 162 votes, while Congress’s Amin Patel defeated Shaina NC in Mumbra-Kalwa.
RJD shines in Jharkhand
The RJD emerged as a surprise performer in Jharkhand, winning four out of six contested seats. Its candidates defeated sitting BJP MLAs in key constituencies, with Sanjay Prasad Yadav securing a notable win in Godda by 21,471 votes.
Smaller parties struggle
In Maharashtra, parties like the MNS, BSP, and Swabhimani Paksha failed to win any seats, reflecting the dominance of larger alliances.
