Mahayuti and MVA gear up for Maharashtra Assembly elections

As the state gears up for Maharashtra assembly elections, the political landscape is heating up with alliances and strategies taking center stage. Two major coalitions, the Mahayuti and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), are preparing to battle it out for control of the state's legislative assembly.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is looking to put up a tough fight after the alliance gained a decisive edge over the ruling Mahayuti in the Lok Sabha elections by winning 30 of the 48 seats in Maharashtra. And now the two principal alliances are gearing up for another face-off in the Maharashtra assembly elections.

But before the Maharashtra assembly elections, the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) faced each other in a tumultuous Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra Legislature which began on June 27. Being the last session of the present state Assembly before the forthcoming elections slated for September-October, the Mahayuti, which is yet to recover from the setback in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, listed out its achievements in the last two-and-a-half years while proposing a blueprint for the future. On the other hand, buoyed by its performance in the General Elections, the MVA is in a combative mood to take on the Mahayuti government on a range of issues.

Mahayuti: The grand alliance

The Mahayuti, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is a coalition that includes key allies like the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) and several smaller parties. This alliance aims to consolidate the pro-Hindutva vote and leverage its organisational strength and resources.

Maha Vikas Aghadi: The united opposition

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprises the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), the Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar (Sharad Pawar faction), and the Congress. Formed after the 2019 elections, the MVA came together to prevent the BJP from forming the government, leading to a unique coalition of ideologically diverse parties.

What do leaders from both alliances have to say?

Maharashtra has 288 legislative assembly constituencies, making it a critical battleground for both, Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi.

The Lok Sabha election results in Maharashtra came as a shock to many political pundits. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) bagged 30 of the 48 seats, while the Mahayuti tally was just 17, compared with 41 in 2019 when the BJP was in alliance with an undivided Shiv Sena.

In the 288-member Assembly, leading in 157 seats may seemingly put the MVA in a comfortable position, but Assembly elections are a different ball game. Hence, all the key players are redrawing their strategies, making Maharashtra politics even more intriguing and now highly unpredictable.

Shiv Sena Secretary and Spokesperson Kiran Pawaskar said, "We are currently working on finalising a plan for the Maharashtra assembly elections. We recently held meetings with our youth and women wings. We have asked our MPs and MLAs to begin preparations for the state assembly elections."

He further stated that the party (Shiv Sena) is also reflecting on the Lok Sabha election results. "We are introspecting the Lok Sabha election results, and based on that, we will come up with a strong plan for the Maharashtra assembly elections. However, one shouldn't forget that the Lok Sabha elections and the Maharashtra assembly elections are different. So, the bottom line is we are currently working on a strong plan for the Maharashtra assembly elections, keeping in mind the Lok Sabha election results," Pawaskar added.

On the other hand, a few days back, the BJP said that it would maintain a status quo on its leadership in Maharashtra in the wake of the upcoming assembly elections in the state. The BJP further asserted that it is working on a blueprint for the Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP coalition to win in the assembly polls due later this year. The decision was taken at Maharashtra BJP's core group meeting. In this meeting, Mahayuti's abysmal performance in the Lok Sabha elections and strategy to win the assembly polls were discussed.

Niranjan Shetty, chief spokesperson for BJP Mumbai, said, "Currently, we are introspecting on the Lok Sabha election debacle. We are examining whether we were able to reach out to the masses effectively. We are also internally speaking to the district heads. We have prepared a team within the party to meet with party workers, interact with them, and understand their preferences, from the choice of candidates to the party's functioning. If any changes are needed, whether organisational or ministerial, we are addressing them through this introspection."

"We are also introspecting whether we were able to fulfill the expectations of the people or if there are more expectations than what we have met. The party also held a meeting a few days back in which this internal introspection was discussed, including exactly where we may have missed out and whether we were not able to deliver as per the expectations of the people," he said.

"Our party workers are ready 365 days a year. The BJP works around the clock, 24/7," Shetty said.

Meanwhile, Congress and the MVA are maintaining the momentum from the Lok Sabha elections.

Maharashtra Congress chief spokesperson Atul Londhe said, "The momentum from the Lok Sabha elections hasn't stopped yet. We haven't stopped working since then. We have also instructed our party workers to work hard for the forthcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. Our party has started training the party workers with the state assembly elections in mind. We have also instructed our party workers to address local issues and work on them. We emphasised not breaking the momentum from the Lok Sabha elections."

Speaking about MVA's seat sharing, Londhe said, "The talks are ongoing. The seat-sharing discussions will consider the Lok Sabha election results." He further mentioned that all three alliance partners will contest the Maharashtra assembly elections together. "The MVA alliance is strong and will take on the BJP and its allies head-on," he added.

What experts have to say?

Experts feel that both alliances face significant challenges. For the MVA, countering anti-incumbency sentiments will be critical. And for Mahayuti countering the recent Lok Sabha elections debacle will be a critical challenge. Managing coalition partners and ensuring a cohesive campaign strategy will be essential for both sides. Internal discord could be detrimental.

Political analyst Abhay Deshpande said, "The first challenge both Mahayuti and MVA alliances will face is seat distribution. This will be a major hurdle for both alliances post-Lok Sabha election results. Their complex composition and diverse political goals are likely to pose challenges to the partners of the ruling Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi during the sharing of seats ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Now you have two Shiv Senas and two NCPs. Things have changed drastically. There will be a lot of give and take."

While speaking about Mahayuti's challenges, Deshpande said, "Both the Maratha and OBC communities are not happy. This is going to be a big task for the Mahayuti alliance. They will also have to look after party workers, as their morale will be down post Lok Sabha polls debacle."

While MVA will have to face significant challenges in maintaining their Lok Sabha election momentum. "MVA, which highlighted issues like CAA, NRC, etc., during the Lok Sabha elections, may not find them as relevant for the state assembly elections. They will need to focus on local and state-specific issues. With the ruling alliance offering many freebies ahead of the state assembly elections, MVA will need to work hard to sustain the momentum from the Lok Sabha elections. The recent results have boosted morale within MVA, demonstrating that this alliance can strongly contest against the BJP. This alliance is a potent combination. Therefore, the main challenge for MVA is to sustain the momentum from the Lok Sabha elections," Deshpande said.

The political landscape in the state is set for an intense contest between the Mahayuti and the MVA in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. With both the Mahayuti and the MVA deploying strategic plans to win over voters, the Maharashtra assembly elections promise to be a significant indicator of the state's political future. The outcome will not only shape Maharashtra's governance for the next five years but also influence the broader national political scenario.