As Maharashtra gears up for the 2024 Assembly Elections, Yugendra Pawar, candidate for the Baramati seat from the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), expressed confidence that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance would emerge victorious with a significant majority. According to Pawar, the coalition, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), is likely to secure around 175 to 180 seats, enough to reclaim power in the state.
“I don’t think that they’ll (Mahayuti) get 175 seats. The Maha Vikas Aghadi will get maybe close to 175 or 180 seats,” Pawar asserted, sharing his optimism for the alliance in a conversation with ANI. He further stated, “On November 23, we will get to see what the exact margin is… Victory will be ours.” Pawar highlighted several critical issues the MVA aims to address, including water scarcity, rising unemployment, increased crime rates, and corruption, stating, “Water is a very big issue. Unemployment, increasing crime rates, and corruption, all are big issues, and we’ll work on all of these.”
Baramati, traditionally a stronghold for the Pawar family, has become one of the most closely watched constituencies this election season. Yugendra Pawar’s candidacy brings a family rivalry to the forefront, as he will face off against his uncle, Ajit Pawar, a prominent leader within the NCP who has aligned with the Mahayuti alliance. This family dynamic adds another layer of complexity to an already intense race.
In recent years, Baramati has drawn heightened political attention. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Sunetra Pawar ran against Supriya Sule in a competitive race where Sule eventually won by a margin of 1.5 lakh votes, underscoring the Pawar family’s influence in the region.
As the November 20 election day approaches, campaigning has intensified across the state. The MVA, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), is positioning itself as a formidable force against the Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP. Both coalitions are determined to sway voters in this high-stakes election, with vote counting scheduled for November 23.
In past Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP and its allies have shown strength. In 2019, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and Congress obtained 44. In the earlier 2014 elections, the BJP held 122 seats, with Shiv Sena at 63 and Congress at 42.
As the clock ticks down to election day, Yugendra Pawar’s predictions signal confidence within the MVA, and his message of addressing critical issues resonates with many voters. The race for Baramati, backed by both family heritage and political stakes, adds a distinctive narrative to the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly Elections.