New Delhi: The BJP-led Mahayuti coalition has emerged victorious in Maharashtra, delivering a historic result in the 2024 Assembly elections, while the INDIA Opposition bloc retained its dominance in Jharkhand. Alongside these significant state elections, bypoll results for 48 Assembly seats and two Lok Sabha constituencies were also announced.
The BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde faction)-NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) alliance secured over 230 of the 288 Assembly seats, achieving a landslide win. The BJP alone claimed 132 seats, marking its best-ever performance in Maharashtra, while the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) won 54 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP gained 41. Welfare initiatives like the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana and campaign efforts by top leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were credited for the coalition's success.
In stark contrast, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)—comprising the Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction)—suffered a dramatic defeat. With a combined tally of less than a quarter of the Mahayuti’s total, the results have dealt a major blow to the political standing of Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, both of whom have already faced challenges from internal party divisions.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led INDIA alliance retained its stronghold in the state, winning 57 out of 81 Assembly seats. Chief Minister Hemant Soren capitalized on welfare schemes like the Maiya Samman Yojana and turned accusations of political vendetta against him into electoral strength. The BJP, contesting in alliance with the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), managed to secure 23 seats, failing to dent the INDIA bloc's dominance.
The results of two Lok Sabha bypolls saw a split: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of the Congress made an impactful electoral debut by winning the Wayanad seat in Kerala with a record margin of over 400,000 votes, while the BJP captured the Nanded seat in Maharashtra with Santukrao Hambade’s victory.
In the 48 Assembly bypolls, the BJP-led NDA performed strongly in Assam, Bihar, and Rajasthan. The Congress secured a morale-boosting victory in Karnataka, while Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress swept West Bengal. In Uttar Pradesh, however, Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party faced setbacks.
These results underline significant shifts in regional political dynamics. The BJP’s commanding win in Maharashtra solidifies its position in the lead-up to the 2024 general elections, while the INDIA bloc’s victory in Jharkhand reaffirms its influence in tribal-dominated regions. The bypolls highlighted the growing polarization between the NDA and INDIA alliances, setting the stage for a highly competitive general election.