New Delhi: With the Mahayuti alliance securing a commanding two-thirds majority in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the state’s focus now shifts to who will take the mantle of Chief Minister. Eknath Shinde, who assumed the role after splitting the Shiv Sena in 2022, remains a contender. However, Devendra Fadnavis, who hinted in a media interaction that the three Mahayuti constituents would jointly decide the CM, is widely seen as the frontrunner.
Ajit Pawar has also emerged as a strong leader despite setbacks during the Lok Sabha elections. His supporters recently put up a poster declaring him the next CM, though it was quickly removed. Meanwhile, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which repeatedly questioned the Mahayuti government’s legitimacy, now finds itself grappling with an identity crisis.
Big winners in Maharashtra elections
1. Devendra Fadnavis
Devendra Fadnavis continues to prove his mettle as a political strategist. Appointed BJP’s state president in 2013, he became Chief Minister in 2014 and is only the second CM in Maharashtra to complete a full term. His challenges began in 2019 when the BJP failed to secure a majority and the undivided Shiv Sena withdrew support over disagreements on CM rotation. Uddhav Thackeray subsequently allied with the Congress and NCP to form the MVA government. Despite facing criticism within his party, Fadnavis persevered, eventually leading the BJP to its best-ever performance in this election, with the party expected to win over 130 of the 149 seats it contested. This stunning victory makes him the strongest contender for the CM post.
2.Ajit Pawar
Ajit Pawar’s decision to break away from his uncle Sharad Pawar in 2023 was initially met with scepticism from political analysts and even the RSS, which criticised the move as misaligned with the BJP’s and Shiv Sena’s ideologies. The fallout was evident during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the Mahayuti secured only 17 of Maharashtra’s 48 seats. Ajit’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, lost to his cousin Supriya Sule in Baramati, a significant blow to his faction. However, this assembly election has vindicated Ajit Pawar, firmly establishing his leadership within the NCP and silencing doubts about his legitimacy. With this victory, he has successfully stepped out of his uncle’s shadow.
3.Eknath Shinde
Eknath Shinde faced relentless criticism as an “illegitimate CM” from the Uddhav Thackeray faction, which questioned his control over the Shiv Sena’s grassroots units (shakhas). Ajit Pawar’s entry into the Mahayuti was initially seen as a move to counterbalance Shinde’s perceived weaknesses. Undeterred, Shinde introduced initiatives like the Chief Minister Ladki Bahin Yojna, which bolstered his image. His faction’s victory in over 50 seats demonstrates his growing influence among the Shiv Sena’s local units, strengthening his position both politically and legally as the leader of the primary Sena faction.
Big losers in Maharashtra elections
1.Sharad Pawar
Sharad Pawar, once considered the kingmaker in Maharashtra politics, witnessed a significant erosion of his influence after his nephew Ajit Pawar split the NCP in 2023. This division left the party fragmented and weakened, with the faction led by Sharad Pawar struggling to retain its footing. The elections exposed the limitations of Pawar’s old-school politics against the BJP’s aggressive electioneering and organisational strength. Ajit Pawar’s faction, now firmly aligned with the Mahayuti, has further overshadowed the senior leader’s relevance. Even in the Pawar stronghold of Baramati, a constituency symbolising his family’s dominance, the results suggested diminishing loyalty. Ajit Pawar’s faction now seems poised to redefine the NCP’s future, marginalising Sharad Pawar’s role.
2.Uddhav Thackeray
Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership took a hit after Eknath Shinde’s rebellion in 2022, which resulted in the Shiv Sena’s vertical split. Despite holding onto the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, Uddhav struggled to mobilise voters in this election, as Shinde’s faction outperformed him. Shinde’s focus on local Shiv Sena units (shakhas) and outreach programmes weakened Uddhav’s connection with traditional party loyalists. This election has raised questions about the sustainability of Uddhav’s leadership and his faction’s political future. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) experiment, which brought together ideologically diverse parties (Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena-UBT), failed to resonate with voters in this election. Uddhav’s decision to ally with Congress and NCP has been criticised for diluting the Shiv Sena’s core Hindutva identity.
3.Rahul Gandhi
Under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, the Congress has struggled to maintain its presence in Maharashtra, a state once integral to its political stronghold. In this election, the Congress failed to make significant gains, reflecting its waning appeal. Rahul Gandhi’s sporadic campaigning and limited engagement with Maharashtra’s local issues hurt the Congress’s chances. Voters perceived the party as lacking a coherent strategy, especially when juxtaposed with the BJP’s robust organisational machinery. The Congress’s alliance in the MVA further diluted its individual identity, leaving it overshadowed by the Shiv Sena-UBT and NCP factions. Rahul Gandhi’s inability to galvanise the party at the grassroots level contributed to its poor performance.
