As Maharashtra gears up for the assembly elections in 2024, political parties are intensifying their strategies to secure a decisive advantage. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is asserting that the next chief minister will emerge from their alliance, while the Mahayuti coalition, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, is focused on maintaining its grip on power amid internal discord and a contentious political climate.
Union Minister Amit Shah is set to embark on a two-day tour of Maharashtra starting September 24, during which he will engage with Mahayuti partners to finalize the seat-sharing formula. A key highlight of his visit will be his meetings in the MVA strongholds of Western Maharashtra, Marathwada, and Vidarbha.
The BJP’s recent losses in Vidarbha, a region traditionally considered its stronghold, have raised alarms within the party. In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, Congress dominated the area, winning 13 out of 15 constituencies. This shift in political power underscores the need for the BJP to regain its footing in Vidarbha, where prominent party leaders such as State President Chandrashekar Bawankule, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and senior leader Sudhir Mungantiwar hail from.
Shah’s itinerary includes meetings with BJP functionaries in Nashik, Kolhapur, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, all of which are also significant strongholds for the MVA. His visit comes on the heels of a previous trip to the state earlier this month, where he addressed internal conflicts within the Mahayuti, particularly regarding Shiv Sena ministers and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar. Tensions within the alliance surfaced notably when Pawar skipped an inauguration event for a coastal road.
In anticipation of Shah’s visit, the Congress party is ramping up its election strategies, with Maharashtra State Congress President Nana Patole emerging as a potential chief ministerial candidate for the MVA. Although no official announcement has been made regarding the chief ministerial face for the upcoming elections, Patole acknowledged the demand from party workers, emphasizing, “It is our responsibility to get the maximum MLAs from Vidarbha.”
Congress MLA and Nagpur Congress President Vikas Thakre added, “In the Lok Sabha polls, Vidarbha elected the maximum Congress MPs. Now it is our duty to translate that support into legislative seats.”
With political tensions mounting and both sides gearing up for a fierce contest, the coming weeks will be critical in shaping Maharashtra’s electoral landscape.
