In the recent Maharashtra assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demonstrated its remarkable ability to bounce back after a setback, showcasing resilience and effective strategizing. This success is particularly significant given the party’s disappointing performance in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, where its seat count plummeted from 28 in 2019 to just 13. This dip in numbers created a rare dependency on allies for a majority in the lower house of Parliament, a situation not seen since 2014. Maharashtra, with 48 Lok Sabha seats, is the state with the second-highest number of MPs after Uttar Pradesh.
The BJP’s recovery in Maharashtra was fueled by a series of key actions and policies. The state government, under BJP leadership, focused on a range of welfare initiatives targeted at women, tribals, and other marginalized groups. Additionally, the party shifted its focus to candidate selection and grassroots-level campaigning. One of the most significant measures was the launch of the ‘Ladki Behen’ scheme, under which women were promised cash transfers of ₹1,500 per month, with an increase to ₹2,100 if the party was re-elected. This initiative garnered considerable support among women voters.
Another critical factor in the BJP’s success was its outreach to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The party made concerted efforts to assure these groups that their rights were secure, countering claims by the Congress that the constitution would be altered to remove their reservations. BJP’s engagement with various OBC communities helped solidify its base in the region.
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The BJP also extended relief to farmers, particularly onion farmers in North Maharashtra and cotton and soybean farmers in Vidarbha. A promise of loan waivers attracted disillusioned farmers, many of whom had not supported the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, back to the party fold.
Additionally, the BJP strategically kept the question of Chief Ministership open during the campaign. This move helped maintain the popularity of Devendra Fadnavis, especially in Vidarbha, where he has a strong base of support. Furthermore, the BJP was successful in pacifying rebellious leaders within the party, while its opponents, particularly the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, struggled with internal divisions and rebel issues.
As the counting progresses, the ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party, and the BJP, is leading in 236 out of Maharashtra’s 288 seats. In contrast, the Opposition MVA, including Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction, Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction, and Congress, is trailing with just 48 seats.
