New Delhi:

Robin Sharma, the campaign strategist of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, told NDTV today that the Lok Sabha election results had spurred them to spruce up their act and get governance and the message about it shipshape before the assembly election was announced. 

“The fear of loss motivated us to work hard, make course correction and do whatever was needed to bring the alliance back on track,” he told NDTV in an exclusive interview. It left no room for complacency also ensured that the ruling alliance had dealt with the tough questions when the MVA was bickering over seat share and the all-important question of who would be the Chief Minister.

Consequently, “We were ahead in comparison to the MVA in terms of planning, preparedness, candidates, campaign strategy,” he said. 

He attributed the victory to the role played by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, saying it was “all about his hard work. He rolled out campaigns that really benefited people. He also campaigned in seats where the BJP and Shiv Sena were contesting, ensuring that their alliance is properly recognised by people”.

Asked if the Ladki Behen proved to be the X factor for the landslide win of the ruling alliance, he said, “Definitely… it gave a fillip to the campaign”.

“This is because Ladki Behen was not just an announcement, they received Rs 7,500 in their account during some big festival,” he said.  

“We have seen the data of how these women have started spending this money on themselves, taking care of themselves. Especially women who are suffering from anaemia. Involvement in schools have gone up and they have started saving money for themselves… So there is a lot of trust that we will deliver,” he said. 

“This is the first time women were receiving such money in Maharashtra. So it definitely helped us,” he added.

Mahayuthi — the ruling alliance of Mr Shinde’s Sena, Ajit Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party and the BJP — are ahead on 236 of Maharashtra’s 288 seats.

The Opposition MVA – the Shiv Sena faction of Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar’s faction of Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress — are ahead on just 48 seats. 
 

Mumbai:

“Complicated” is going to be the middle name of the assembly election in Maharashtra this year. But the state is bracing for an even tougher battle once the dust settles – one for the Chief Minister’s chair. No matter which side wins, ruling alliance Mahayuti or the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, that decision is unlikely to be simple or straightforward – so much so that many are expecting a political reconfiguration post-result, a sequel of what happened in 2019 that set the stage for a drastic political upheaval two years down the line.

What makes the situation complicated is resolute nature of the claimants — on each side, only two appear to be running for the top post.

It is difficult to assess the ambitions of both factions of the NCP. On one side is veteran leader Sharad Pawar, dubbed by many as the Chanakya of Maharashtra, on the other hand, there is his nephew Ajit Pawar, who is being seen as the “kingmaker” in this election.

In the ruling alliance, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena is eager to see its leader get the top job again, and many surveys have already declared him a popular leader. But that could prove insufficient should the Mahayuti win, with Devendra Fadnavis and his supporters waiting in the wings.

Back in June 2022, Mr Fadnavis’s supporters had been disgruntled over what they saw as short shrift to their leader despite the key role he played in steering the party back to power.

Mr Fadnavis had made his reluctance to accept the number 2 position clear – he accepted only at the last minute after orders from the party high command.  An extra chair had to be brought so he could join Mr Shinde on the dais for the oath ceremony at the Raj Bhavan.

This time, there are whispers that the BJP’s chief strategist, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is garnering votes for Mr Fadnavis. At a recent public rally, he said, “Maharashtra has a lot of faith in Modi ji and Fadnavis ji”. There was no mention of Eknath Shinde.

But the real drama appears reserved for the Opposition MVA should it come to power.

In 2019, the BJP had accused Uddhav Thackeray of breaking the alliance with his steadfast demand for the top post. This time, while Mr Thackeray has not been explicit, his allies are not expecting him to give up on his claim.

But unlike in 2019, a new claimant has appeared on the scene – the Congress with its 13 Lok Sabha seats.

While Mr Thackeray has repeatedly demanded that the Chief ministerial face of the alliance be declared well in advance, Congress’ big leader and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan made it clear that the party which has more MLAs, will get the top job.

There is also talk of Sharad Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party adding the veteran leader’s daughter, Supriya Sule, in the mix if need be.

Maharashtra votes on November 20 in a single phase and the counting of votes will be held on November 23.

Mumbai:

It is raining poll promises in Maharashtra, with around two weeks to go before the assembly election. The ruling alliance Mahayuti and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, have both released their manifestos which make tall promises, especially to the women, farmers and the young people of the state.

Given the do-or-die nature of the coming battle, parties like Shiv Sena of Uddhav Thackeray or Sharad Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, released individual manifestos and made election announcements for every seat. 

While the ruling alliance is wooing voters with its 10 guarantees, the opposition has gone to the people with a “Panchsutra” (Letter of five promises) in its joint manifesto.

The Mahayuti’s 10 guarantees include:

1. . Increasing the amount of Ladli Behan Yojana from Rs 1,500 to 2,100 and a promise to deploy 25,000 women in the police force.
2. . Farmers guaranteed loan waiver and under the Kisan Samman Yojana, the amount to increase from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 per year
3. . A 20% subsidy on MSP
4. . Old-age pension increase from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 per month
5. . Stability in prices of essential commodities 
6. . 25 lakh jobs and education allowance of Rs 10,000 per month promised, training for 10 lakh students 
7. . Anganwadi and Asha workers promised a salary of Rs 15,000 and insurance protection
8. . 45,000 connecting roads in rural areas
9. . 30 per cent reduction in electricity bill
10.  Vision Maharashtra 2029 to be completed within 100 days

“Opposition parties were making fun of Ladli Behan Yojana. What will Rs. 1500 do?” said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. “I promise that the scheme will never be stopped. Many more important decisions will be taken as soon as the government is formed,” he added.

Congress’s Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, held a “Swabhiman Sabha” in Mumbai and released the five promises of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. 

The “Panch Sutra” promise of Mahavikas Aghadi includes:

1.  Under the Mahalaxmi Yojana, women will get Rs. 3,000 per month and free bus travel 
2.  Farmers will get loans up to Rs. 3 lakh, and an incentive of Rs 50,000 for repaying the loan on time.
3.  Caste-based census will be conducted, in which an attempt will be made to remove the 50% reservation limit.
4.  Health insurance up to Rs 25 lakh and free medicines 
5.  Financial assistance of up to Rs 4,000 per month for unemployed young people.

In the Lok Sabha elections, the “Constitution in danger” narrative had given a big advantage to the Maha Vikas Aghadi. This time too, Rahul Gandhi was seen waving the Red Book of the Constitution in Nagpur and Mumbai. 

He was joined by Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar.

The BJP, however, claimed the Red Book Mr Gandhi had brought was completely blank, and called it an insult to Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s Constitution.

Mumbai:

The deadline for filing nominations is over but there is no clarity on around 15 seats in Maharashtra. The ruling alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena of Eknath Shinde and Nationalist Congress Party of Ajit Pawar is yet to announce the names of candidates for four seats. The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi – Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP and the Congress – have not officially declared candidates for 11 seats. 

As of now, BJP has fielded 152 candidates, Ajit Pawar’s faction of NCP 52, and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena 80. This includes the seats they have given to smaller allies — four in case of the BJP and two for Shiv Sena.

In the MVA, the Congress has fielded 103 candidates, Uddhav Thackeray’s faction of Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar are at 87. 

In the afternoon, Sharad Pawar had announced that 87 was the final number as far his party — the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) was concerned. But it still left the mystery over 11 seats intact. 

While some of these seats are expected to go to the smaller allies and the Samajwadi Party, there is no clarity on who gets what, or even how many. 

The unprecedented situation follows weeks of tussle in the Opposition camp. But the ruling alliance, which had more or less got its house in order, has allowed the suspense to grow. 

Hand in hand with the apparent indecision comes a near-trend of leaders turning rebel and filing nomination as Independents. 

The biggest case in point was Nawab Malik of Ajit Pawar’s NCP, who had filed two nominations from the Mankhud seat — one as an Independent and the other as an NCP member, till the party moved to back him just minutes before the deadline.

BJP spokesperson Shaina NC was also seen contesting from Mumbadevi on a Shiv Sena ticket. Even after her name was announced, BJP members were seen vying from that seat.