A remarkable political turnaround has been evident in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, as the NDA – a combination of Eknath Shinde’s faction of Shiv Sena with the BJP and the faction led by Ajit Pawar of NCP- has performed impressively. New trends show that Mahayuti (महायुती) will gain more than 232 seats, many more than the 145 seats required to make the government. The opposition, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)-comprising Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar’s NCP-SP-is way behind, and preliminary estimates suggest it would get less than 50. 

After having shown the kind of electoral strength which it has in Maharashtra, the BJP is more than expected to break the 225 mark, marking a benchmark in the electoral performance in the state. 

The Mahayuti(महायुती) alliance gained momentum within hours of vote counting at 8 am on November 23, crossing the majority mark for the alliance. This has come as a giant blow to MVA which had attempted to cut the ever-widening gap since the beginning of vote tallying. 

Maharashtra has 288 seats across the state and a majority mark at 145. The total voter turnout was recorded at 66.05%, with Gadchiroli holding the top participation rate, while Mumbai had the lowest turnout. The November 20 election saw voting take place; however, the postal ballots were counted first in the process of releasing the election results. 

The Mahayuti’s (महायुती) resounding victory has been proclaimed as a victory for development over dynastic politics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had closely supported Mahayuti (महायुती) campaigns in the state, said that development wins in Maharashtra similar to the alliance’s message of good governance based on progress. The results also settle the ongoing debate over the real Shiv Sena, with Eknath Shinde’s faction decisively emerging as a clear leader against the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction. 

The outcome reflects the ever-growing strength of Mahayuti(महायुती) in Maharashtra through the change in political allegiances. The New assembly will undergo a massive shift in the political activity as Mahayuti(महायुती) is now poised to form the next government.