If ever one compiled a listing of electoral contests involving complexities and requiring an astute thoughts corresponding to a chess participant’s, the 2024 Maharashtra Meeting ballot can be proper on high.
With two opposing alliances — the BJP-led ruling Mahayuti and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) — encompassing rival factions of the 2 key regional gamers, other than rebels and various smaller outfits just like the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM and the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) including to the unpredictability, loads is at stake for every participant who has thrown their hat within the ring.
Within the first Meeting polls for the reason that splits within the Shiv Sena and NCP, the bragging rights may nicely be determined by a key issue — Manoj Jarange-Patil. He’s the Maratha quota activist who stored each side on tenterhooks along with his preliminary indecisiveness, however the suspense finally fizzled out when he withdrew from the race, main each camps to imagine that his sitting out will profit the opposite.
For the 2 Shiv Sena factions — led by Eknath Shinde of the Mahayuti and Uddhav Thackeray of the MVA — and the NCP factions — led by Ajit Pawar of the Mahayuti and Sharad Pawar of the MVA — there’s extra within the offing than simply the hunt for supremacy. Even because the courts and Meeting Speaker Rahul Narwekar have pronounced their verdicts on who the actual events are — Shinde in case of the Sena and Ajit in case of the NCP — leaders of every of the 4 outfits would need to relaxation their circumstances “within the individuals’s courtroom”.
As Ajit gears up for a fierce contest within the Pawar household bastion of Baramati, he’ll hold an in depth eye on the outcomes. He is aware of nicely that any alliance inside placing distance or simply above the magic determine of 145 will guarantee he turns into kingmaker which can enable him to fulfil his long-cherished dream of changing into chief minister.
The senior Pawar, who largely reserved his assaults on the NCP “traitors” throughout his marketing campaign, is probably going hoping to make his final mark within the state’s politics and stun his opponents like he has for the higher a part of his political profession.
Uddhav appears to have the very best stakes within the sport proper now. Other than preventing the “survival-of-the-fittest battle”, he’ll look to reclaim his father Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy from “gaddar” Shinde. Though not within the fray, with Shinde’s higher strike charge within the Lok Sabha polls, Uddhav is bound to have sleepless nights main as much as November 23. Two consecutive losses to his rival faction will more than likely sound the loss of life knell for his political profession.
For Shinde, the polls can be a possibility to show himself because the rightful inheritor of Balasaheb and the “actual get together chief” other than cementing his place throughout the Mahayuti. A great efficiency will present him with the much-needed bargaining chip to remain firmly within the CM’s chair.
Nonetheless, events and leaders are conscious that the “combine and match” in Maharashtra’s political panorama since 2022 has put the onus firmly on the candidates. An MVA chief from Jalgaon put it aptly, “Hazar kilo khichadit makyacha ek dana shodhnya sarkha aahe (It’s as complicated as looking for a grain of corn from 1,000 kg of khichdi).”
For the nationwide events, the stakes could also be just a little completely different, however they’re equally excessive. The BJP will look to “avenge” its Lok Sabha drubbing, search a seal of approval from the individuals following the splits within the Sena and NCP, and deal with the elections as a referendum on its time period. One man within the BJP — Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis — can be praying for a very good present by his get together as it should assist him reclaim his “misplaced throne”.
For Congress too, a very good present is crucial to make it possible for it will get the “huge brother” tag within the MVA. Quite the opposite, a poor displaying shut on the heels of its dismal Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir performances is more likely to see it lose its Lok Sabha steam.
Given the excessive stakes, no get together or alliance has left something to probability. The Mahayuti, since its Lok Sabha drubbing only some months in the past, has gone on a challenge and sop spree because it aggressively pushes its Hindutva agenda even at the price of rubbing certainly one of its allies (Ajit’s NCP) the improper method. Then again, the MVA has promised a slew of measures to maintain the momentum of the parliamentary polls, even when it meant a promise to extend assist underneath a Mahayuti scheme — the Ladki Bahin Yojana — which it initially opposed citing financial burden on the state exchequer.
One factor is for certain: Each stakeholder within the election waits with bated breath for November 23. Solely that day will inform if Maharashtra will see historical past from 5 years in the past repeat itself, a believable situation as a better variety of gamers vie for the honours.
pushkar.banakar@expressindia.com
