The tension between Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar seems to have diffused as both of them visited Delhi for their respective meetings. There have been reports of differences over the power-sharing agreement between the ruling alliance in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Pawar has hinted at a probable Cabinet expansion on Sunday, which would be the first time he and his uncle Sharad Pawar will be meeting publicly in months. The two leaders were estranged after Ajit Pawar joined hands with the Shinde-Fadnavis government in July last year.
NCP leader Sharad Pawar and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar each paid their respects to Maharashtra's first Chief Minister, Y B Chavan, on the anniversary of his passing. The two leaders' separate tributes at the Pritisangam memorial highlight the ongoing divisions within the party.
In a heated electoral clash between the Pawar family members, Ajit Pawar has emerged as the victor with a commanding lead over his uncle Sharad Pawar's faction. With a strike rate of 61.02%, this victory cements Ajit Pawar's position as a strong contender in the electoral landscape. However, with the BJP outdoing expectations with leads and wins in 130 seats, questions arise about the upcoming chief ministerial pick in Maharashtra. The split in the NCP family has created consequences that are drastically different for both factions, with this being the first election after their vertical split.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar's election campaign in Maharashtra has been focused on the color pink, symbolizing feminine energy and garnering support from women voters. As the Mahayuti alliance leads in the state, Pawar's party is performing well in 36 constituencies, including his own in Baramati where he is currently leading with a significant margin. This victory holds extra significance for Pawar, who is using the color pink to not only claim victory, but also to avenge the perceived betrayal by his uncle and political rival Sharad Pawar. The use of this strategic color scheme in his campaign has also been seen in his wardrobe, with reports claiming that he owns 18 pink jackets. Ultimately, the success of the NCP's pink campaign could help decide the fate of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra.
With the Maharashtra Assembly election results just a day away, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is confident of coming out on top with a projected win of 160-165 seats. However, as the parties in the alliance differ on their choice for the CM face, fissures have emerged within the alliances. In the midst of this, the MVA and Mahayuti, comprising of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, are holding informal meetings amidst projections of a win for the BJP-led bloc in exit polls. The MVA claims they will form the government within 12 hours of the results being declared.
Aditi Tatkare, daughter of senior NCP leader Sunil Tatkare, has emerged as the first victor of the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls after securing a massive victory from the Shrivardhan constituency. This victory is a major boost for the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which was formed after a split with the party founded by Sharad Pawar. In other election news, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has also secured a win in his constituency. The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is set to retain power in the state, leading in 218 of the 288 seats, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi is leading in only 50 seats.
The much-anticipated Maharashtra Assembly Elections for 2024 kicked off on Wednesday, with all 288 constituencies heading to the polls. With a total of 4,140 candidates in the running, the real competition lies between the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Mahayuti alliances. The MVA, composed of Shiv Sena (under Uddhav Thackeray), NCP (led by Sharad Pawar), and Congress, is going head to head with Mahayuti, which includes Shiv Sena (under Eknath Shinde), NCP (under Ajit Pawar), and BJP. Mark your calendars for key dates of the election: Gazette Notification on October 22, Last Date for Nominations on October 29, Nomination Scrutiny on October 30, Last Date for Withdrawal of Nominations on November 4, and Voting Day on November 20.
As Maharashtra gears up for the upcoming Assembly elections, national leaders take a backseat as state leaders become the focal point of the political landscape. With marquee leaders like Eknath Shinde of Shiv Sena and Devendra Fadnavis of BJP fighting for their own dominance, the role of regional leaders becomes crucial. Amidst this, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar faces the heat while Uddhav Thackeray struggles to establish himself as the real Shiv Sena leader. The Congress also adopts a localised strategy, leaving the NCP camp to rely on the master strategist, Sharad Pawar. With multiple factors at play, the Maharashtra elections have become a highly contested battle with each of the 288 constituencies being influenced by distinct issues.
In a surprising twist to the Maharashtra Assembly election, NCP leader Nawab Malik filed two nomination forms for the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar seat, causing controversy and speculation about his intentions. While he confirmed that he is the official NCP candidate, locals and party members are divided about whether he will run independently. With former ally Sharad Pawar also fielding a candidate against Malik's daughter, the race for the Anushakti Nagar seat has intensified.
Amid speculation of stepping aside for his younger son, NCP chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will be contesting the upcoming Assembly election from Baramati constituency, which is considered a stronghold of the Pawar family. The NCP, in alliance with BJP and Shiv Sena, announced its first list of 38 candidates, including 26 sitting MLAs. Ajit Pawar is expected to face a challenge from his nephew, Yugendra Pawar, who is contesting from NCP (SP).