The Election Commission of India has announced that Maharashtra and Jharkhand will go to polls across two phases, beginning on November 13. Jharkhand will vote in two phases — on November 13 and 20 — while Maharashtra will conduct voting in a single phase on November 20. The counting of votes for both states will take place on November 23, 2024.
Previous Election Results and Current Political Scenario
Jharkhand (2019): In the last Assembly elections, Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), as part of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), secured a comfortable victory by winning 47 out of 82 seats.
Maharashtra (2019): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the undivided Shiv Sena dominated with a combined 161 seats out of 288. However, power-sharing disagreements led to the Sena breaking its alliance with the BJP and forming a coalition government with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress, a government that fell in 2023 after rebellions within both the Sena and the NCP.
High Stakes for BJP and Congress
The Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections are the final state polls of the year, carrying significant weight for both the BJP and the Congress:
BJP’s Position: The BJP, currently in power in Maharashtra alongside factions of the Shiv Sena and the NCP, seeks to consolidate its position after a series of victories, including in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, and a historic win in the 2024 general elections, where Narendra Modi secured a third term as Prime Minister.
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Congress’ Battle: After a surprising defeat in Haryana and a lackluster performance in Jammu and Kashmir, the upcoming polls are crucial for Congress, particularly in Maharashtra, where it faces internal criticisms and external pressure from opposition allies like the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) and the Trinamool Congress to reassess its election strategies and alliances.
Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir Elections
In last week’s results, the BJP retained control in Haryana after defeating Congress, while in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference (NC) won the first-ever Assembly election since the region’s bifurcation, although Congress’ contribution to this victory has been questioned. The NC, supported by the Aam Aadmi Party and independent candidates, secured a majority without needing Congress’ backing.
Focus on Seat-Sharing and Alliances
The Congress’ setbacks in Haryana have led to intensified criticism from its regional allies, with calls for better coordination on seat-sharing. The Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction, particularly through editorials in its mouthpiece, urged Congress to accommodate regional allies and avoid internal disobedience, citing these issues as key factors in the party’s Haryana defeat.
With high stakes for both major parties, the Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections are expected to shape the political landscape heading into 2025.
