Maharashtra Election 2024 : These days the activities for assembly elections are very intense in Maharashtra. Since Tuesday was the last day of nomination, there was a huge crowd of people filing nominations in various constituencies. The picture of seat distribution in the ruling Mahayuti could become clear only on the last day of nomination filing. In the ruling alliance, BJP is going to contest maximum 148 seats.
The party declared its candidates on two seats on the last day of filing nominations. During the last assembly elections held in 2019, BJP had fielded its candidates on 164 seats. In this way, the party has sacrificed 16 seats to strengthen the alliance in the current assembly elections.
This is how seats were distributed in the ruling coalition
The successful seat sharing without any major controversy in the ruling grand alliance is being considered a big success. Apart from BJP, two other major parties in the ruling alliance include Shinde faction of Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar faction of NCP. The three parties together have successfully distributed seats among themselves. According to this, BJP will contest elections on maximum 148 seats.
Shiv Sena’s Shinde faction has won 85 assembly seats while NCP’s Ajit Pawar faction has fielded its candidates on 51 seats. Small parties joining the alliance have been given a chance to contest elections on four seats.
BJP contested on 164 seats in 2019
The political situation in Maharashtra was completely different during the 2019 assembly elections. At that time BJP had an alliance with undivided Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena was not divided at that time. Under this alliance, BJP had contested elections on 164 seats, out of which party candidates had won on 105 seats.
On the other hand, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena had contested on 126 seats and won 56 seats. Later, differences arose between the two parties regarding the post of Chief Minister and the alliance broke. Uddhav Thackeray was successful in becoming the Chief Minister by getting the support of Congress and Sharad Pawar.
BJP gave up 16 seats
This time BJP is contesting elections on 148 seats only. This time the party has sacrificed 16 seats to strengthen the Mahayuti alliance. Showing great courage, the party has given these 16 seats to its allies. BJP had declared names of 99 candidates in its first list. Names of 22 candidates were announced in the second list and then 25 candidates were announced in the third list. On the last day of nomination, the party declared its candidates on two seats.
In the fourth and last list of BJP, it was announced to field former MLA Narendra Mehta from Mira Bhayandar assembly constituency of Thane district and Sudhir Parve from Umred (Scheduled Caste) assembly constituency of Nagpur district.
Despite the split in Shiv Sena, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena bargained well within the alliance and secured 85 seats. Ajit Pawar’s NCP, which performed very poorly during the Lok Sabha elections held four months ago, has also grabbed 51 seats.
New formula for the post of Chief Minister
However, in this time’s assembly elections, pressure has been increased from BJP regarding the post of Chief Minister. According to informed sources, after the election results, a new formula has been given by BJP regarding the new Chief Minister in case of victory of the alliance. This time it has been made clear by the BJP that the leader of the party winning the most seats will be the next Chief Minister. After this formula, senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is considered to be the strongest contender for the post of Chief Minister.
Although this formula has not been announced openly, there has definitely been a discussion regarding this formula among the allies. The leadership of BJP in Maharashtra Assembly elections is in the hands of Fadnavis. He has also been the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in the past. In such a situation, if Mahayuti wins the elections, he can become the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
On the other hand, it is also true that pressure is being created by Shiv Sena Shinde faction regarding Shinde’s name. Leaders associated with Shinde’s Shiv Sena believe that it was under his leadership that success in changing power in Maharashtra was achieved. Therefore they should be given another chance. However, BJP does not seem ready for this now.