The much-anticipated results of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections will be declared on Saturday, marking the culmination of an action-packed election year in 2024. Alongside these high-stakes state elections, the outcome of bypolls held across 46 assembly constituencies and two parliamentary seats in 13 states will also be unveiled. The political landscape, shaped by months of campaigning and strategic maneuvering, stands poised for a shake-up.
Exit polls suggest an edge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in both Maharashtra and Jharkhand. In Maharashtra, with its 288-member assembly, the majority mark is 145, while in Jharkhand’s 81-member assembly, it is 41. The results are expected to reverberate through the winter session of Parliament starting Monday, where the Modi government aims to push 16 bills, including a controversial amendment to the Waqf law. Meanwhile, the opposition is prepared to spotlight issues like the Manipur crisis, price rise, and caste-based concerns.
Maharashtra’s assembly election is a critical test for both the ruling Mahayuti alliance, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar). The state has seen dramatic political upheavals in recent years, with splits in the Shiv Sena and NCP reshaping alliances. Shinde’s government has banked on schemes like the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, targeting women voters, alongside a focus on issues such as Maratha reservations and Hindutva. However, the BJP-led alliance has its work cut out after securing only 17 of Maharashtra’s 48 parliamentary seats in the April-June general elections, lagging behind the MVA.
In Jharkhand, the BJP and its allies are seeking to unseat Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress-RJD coalition. The tribal-dominated state has witnessed intense political drama, including Hemant Soren’s brief resignation following his arrest on corruption charges. While the JMM has leaned on tribal anger and alleged injustices, the BJP has campaigned on issues such as alleged illegal immigration in tribal regions.
The elections in these states come after the BJP’s strong showing in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year and its unexpected win in Haryana. As the final countdown begins, political observers are keenly awaiting what surprises, if any, Saturday’s results may hold.
