Mumbai: As Maharashtra gears up for the 2024 assembly elections, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and its ally BJP face formidable challenges in their quest to retain power. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), an alliance of the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party-SP, and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction, has been steadily gaining momentum, posing a significant threat to the ruling MahaYuti coalition.
Key Challenges for Shinde-BJP-Ajit
Factional Infighting: Eknath Shinde’s rise to power through a rebellion within the Shiv Sena has left deep fissures within the party. With Uddhav Thackeray’s faction continuing to command loyalty from traditional Sena voters, Shinde’s camp struggles to consolidate the vote base.
Rural Distress: Maharashtra’s agrarian distress remains a crucial issue, with farmers grappling with unpredictable rains and insufficient compensation. The MVA has been quick to target the Shinde-BJP government for its handling of this crisis, promising a more farmer-centric approach.
Inflation and Unemployment: The BJP-Shinde government has also faced criticism over rising inflation and unemployment, and losing out on investment to Gujrat. The MVA is banking on these economic issues to sway the electorate, particularly in urban constituencies.
NCP Split Confusion: While the NCP’s Ajit Pawar joined the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, Sharad Pawar’s faction still holds considerable clout particularly in the sugar belt of Maharashtra. With Pawar senior still calling the shots and some MLAs switching loyalties back to Pawar, Ajit on the other hand is left with no option but to succumb to the pressure of BJP in seat sharing talks.
MVA’s Strategy
The MVA’s core strength lies in its ability to unite diverse voter bases. Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena retains emotional connect with urban and Marathi voters, while Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP are strong in rural, minority dominated constituencies.
Congress state president Nana Patole recently stated, “The MVA will fight on issues that matter—jobs, farmers’ welfare, and economic justice. The people are ready for a change.” Similarly, Sharad Pawar has focused on grassroots mobilization, asserting, “We will restore Maharashtra’s pride and will not buckle to the power centre of Delhi.”
BJP Maharashtra state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule expressed confidence, claiming, “The people trust us to lead Maharashtra’s growth story forward. We are ready to counter MVA’s negative narrative with our development agenda.”
As the battle for Maharashtra intensifies, the key question is whether the Shinde-BJP government can overcome its internal fractures and win public trust.
