The Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 has reshaped the state’s political landscape, delivering a resounding victory to the Mahayuti alliance, consisting of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). In stark contrast, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), an opposition coalition comprising the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP, suffered a significant setback. The results underscore how internal discord and strategic blunders within the MVA handed Mahayuti a near-clean sweep of the assembly seats.
The MVA entered the elections with significant momentum, riding high on its success in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections earlier in the year. The coalition seemed confident, perhaps overly so, about their prospects in the assembly polls. However, that confidence quickly morphed into complacency, which proved to be a fatal flaw. Internal squabbles and a lack of unity became the coalition’s undoing.
The biggest issue was the fight over the Chief Ministerial candidate. Initially, Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of the Shiv Sena faction aligned with the Congress and NCP, insisted on leading the coalition. However, as the election campaign progressed, he withdrew from the race, hoping to find a consensus candidate. This attempt at consensus backfired, as neither Congress President Nana Patole nor NCP stalwart Sharad Pawar could agree on a unified approach to leadership.
This visible disunity within the MVA was hard to ignore and alienated many voters. The lack of a strong and clear leadership figure sent a signal of instability, which ultimately weakened the coalition’s position in the eyes of the electorate. This disunity, coupled with internal infighting, left the MVA struggling to present a coherent and effective narrative, which the Mahayuti capitalized on with ease.
In stark contrast, the Mahayuti alliance ran a focused and cohesive campaign. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s government, despite facing its own challenges, managed to present a solid record of governance. His outreach to women and rural voters was especially successful, striking a chord with a broad swath of Maharashtra’s electorate. The alliance also effectively leveraged welfare schemes and the narrative of economic development to their advantage.
While the MVA struggled to counter these claims, Mahayuti maintained a disciplined message that resonated with voters. The coalition’s ability to highlight its achievements in governance and present a clear vision for the state allowed them to connect with a wide range of voters. On the other hand, the MVA failed to present a compelling alternative. In the final stages of the campaign, when Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of the Dharavi redevelopment project, it failed to gain traction with voters, who were more focused on tangible issues like governance and development.
A key factor in the Mahayuti’s success was the emphasis on Hindutva, a theme that has always been central to Maharashtra’s political landscape. The BJP was able to capitalize on the split within the Shiv Sena, framing Uddhav Thackeray as someone who had abandoned the legacy of his father, the late Balasaheb Thackeray. This narrative was reinforced by campaign slogans such as “United we stand, divided we fall,” a message that resonated particularly well with the party’s base.
Despite some dissent within the BJP and NCP over the aggressive Hindutva messaging, the strategy proved effective. The polarizing appeal of Hindutva, combined with the BJP’s broader narrative of unity and nationalism, played a significant role in energizing their supporters. It also helped solidify their position among key voter segments, including those who had previously been disillusioned with Uddhav Thackeray’s break from the Shiv Sena’s traditional ideology.
While every government faces anti-incumbency, the MVA failed to capitalize on this sentiment. The Mahayuti government, despite its achievements, was far from flawless, and there was ample opportunity for the opposition to question its governance. However, the MVA struggled to hold the government accountable on key issues such as unemployment, inflation, and governance lapses.
More importantly, the MVA did not offer a clear and compelling vision to voters. While they had valid criticisms of the ruling coalition, their messaging lacked the coherence and direction needed to sway undecided voters. The campaign never quite transformed into a referendum on the performance of the Mahayuti government. Instead, it became a referendum on the MVA’s inability to unite and present itself as a credible alternative. This failure to connect with voters was a significant missed opportunity.
The results of the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 raise serious questions for the leadership of the MVA. Can the alliance recover from this setback, or is this the beginning of its decline? To regain its credibility and political standing, the MVA will need to reassess its strategy, bridge internal divides, and rebuild trust among voters. Without a clear direction and effective leadership, the coalition will struggle to challenge the Mahayuti in future elections.
In conclusion, the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 highlight the importance of unity, strategic campaigning, and effective voter engagement. While Mahayuti’s landslide victory cements its dominance in the state, the MVA’s missteps offer a cautionary tale for opposition politics across India. Elections are not just about addressing issues; they are about earning trust, and this is where the MVA failed to make the necessary inroads this time around.
