As Maharashtra braces for the counting of Assembly election votes on November 23, a poster in Pune featuring Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar as the “future Chief Minister” stirred political buzz before being swiftly removed. The poster, reportedly placed by NCP leader Santosh Nangare, hinted at internal aspirations within the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction.
The Political Battlefield in Maharashtra
The elections have set the stage for a fierce battle between the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The Mahayuti comprises the BJP, the Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP, while the MVA includes Congress, the Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction.
According to exit polls, the Mahayuti alliance is projected to retain power in Maharashtra, with the Maha Vikas Aghadi putting up a strong fight but falling short of a majority in the 288-member Assembly. The P-MARQ exit poll estimates Mahayuti securing 137-157 seats and MVA 126-147, while Chanakya Strategies predicts Mahayuti winning 150-152 seats and MVA 130-138.
Leadership Debate Within Alliances
The buzz surrounding Ajit Pawar’s poster adds fuel to the speculation over the Chief Ministerial candidate. While the poster suggests aspirations for Pawar to lead Maharashtra, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde downplayed any competition within the Mahayuti alliance over the top post.
“All leaders (of Mahayuti) will sit together and decide. There is no competition to be the CM. We are focused on forming the government to drive development over the next five years,” Shinde told ANI. He also criticized the MVA for spending its previous term debating the CM position instead of addressing public concerns.
Exit Poll Highlights
- Mahayuti: 137-157 seats (P-MARQ), 150-152 seats (Chanakya Strategies)
- MVA: 126-147 seats (P-MARQ), 130-138 seats (Chanakya Strategies)
- Others: 2-8 seats
Awaiting the Verdict
As the state gears up for results, the political climate remains tense, with both alliances vying for a majority. The removal of Ajit Pawar’s poster signals the sensitivity around leadership claims, reflecting the high stakes involved in forming the next government.