NEW DELHI: Making a strong comeback after the recent Lok Sabha setback, Eknath Shinde‘s Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction has this time cemented its position in Maharashtra. As Mahayuti registered a resounding victory in assembly elections, the break-away factions also got the ‘authentication’ stamp of ‘real’ Sena and NCP after a closely-watched contest with the OGs Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar.
The two Pawars, Shinde and Thackeray were engaged in an intense and riveting battle to seek popular legitimacy for their parties.
Assembly Election Results
A week before the polling on November 20, video of a man trying to obstruct Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde’s convoy and calling him ‘gaddar’ (traitor) for splitting the Shiv Sena and siding with BJP for power, had gone viral on social media.
In Sena vs Sena fight, Eknath Shinde however settled the ‘gaddar’ debate as his party dominated at 59 seats. Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena could manage the won/leads on only 19 seats.
In 2019, the undivided Sena had won 56 seats in alliance with BJP. Out of these, 41 MLAs had joined the Shinde faction and 15 remained with Uddhav Thackeray.
Uddhav Sena leader Sanjay Raut however alleged that there was a “big conspiracy” and something was “fishy” in the Maharashtra assembly poll results. “I see a big conspiracy in this…This is not a mandate of Marathi ‘manoos’ and farmers,” he said. “We do not accept this as people’s mandate. Something is fishy in the election results,” Raut added. “How can all MLAs of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde win? How can Ajit Pawar, whose betrayal angered Maharashtra, win?” the Rajya Sabha MP asked.
Eknath Shinde however clearly positioned himself as a grassroots leader supported by Shiv Sainiks. This, along with the populist schemes are being considered the factors behind his party and the Mayuti’s splendid performance.
In Pawar vs Pawar fight, Ajit Pawar turned out to be the ‘dada’ of the contest as his faction registered victory/leads on 38 seats. His uncle Sharad Pawar’s party could manage to win/lead only 10 seats.
The contest was very important for the prestige of Ajit Pawar who split the Sharad Pawar-led NCP last year and joined hands with the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) coalition. Just few months ago, in Lok Sabha elections he faced humiliating defeat after his wife Sunetra Pawar lost to his cousin Supriya Sule in the Baramati seat, a stronghold of the Pawar family.
Before the assembly polls, Ajit Pawar had admitted the mistake in nominating his wife to contest against Supriya Sule. Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar had fielded his grandnephew against his nephew Ajit Pawar in assembly election.
In the 2019 assembly elections, the undivided NCP had won 53 seats. This time, both the factions of the NCP were in direct fight on 36 seats across the state.
