BJP Storms Back to Power in Maharashtra; JMM Retains Jharkhand Amid Historic Poll Results
Mumbai/Ranchi, Nov 23 –The BJP-led Mahayuti has secured a resounding victory in Maharashtra, achieving a historic landslide that has left its rivals devastated. The alliance is on course to win over 230 seats in the 288-member Assembly, signaling its return to power after a decisive defeat of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which was reduced to less than 50 seats. In stark contrast, Jharkhand saw a contrasting result as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) successfully retained power for a second consecutive term.
Maharashtra: A Record-Breaking Victory for the BJP and Allies
The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, dominated the Maharashtra polls, securing 132 seats, while its allies Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) bagged 58 and 41 seats, respectively. The combined Mahayuti tally soared to an unprecedented 230 seats, sweeping across the state. This victory came despite predictions of an anti-incumbency wave.
Prime Minister Modi, who campaigned extensively across Maharashtra, attributed the win to the people’s faith in the BJP’s governance model, emphasizing development, social justice, and good governance. He described the result as a “stamp of approval” for the BJP and a defeat for forces of deception and divisive politics.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also expressed gratitude to the people, stating that they voted against false narratives and in favor of leadership that delivered tangible results. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, alongside Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, thanked the voters for their overwhelming support and pledged to continue development-oriented politics. However, there was a degree of disbelief within the opposition ranks, with Shiv Sena-UBT President Uddhav Thackeray admitting that the scale of the defeat was like a “tsunami” that swept the MVA away.
The defeat marked a stunning blow to the Shiv Sena-UBT, led by Uddhav Thackeray, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Sharad Pawar. Despite being part of the opposition, the Congress also suffered, with state chief Nana Patole losing his seat. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) led by Raj Thackeray also failed to make an impact, unable to open its account.
Jharkhand: Hemant Soren Retains Power for a Historic Second Term
While Maharashtra saw a major shift in political dynamics, Jharkhand proved to be a different story. The JMM, under Chief Minister Hemant Soren, managed to retain power with an even larger mandate. Despite facing intense anti-incumbency and a strong challenge from the BJP, the JMM won 34 seats on its own, while its allies—Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and CPI (ML)—secured additional seats, bringing their combined tally to a commanding 54 out of 81.
Hemant Soren’s victory was hailed as a testament to the people’s continued support for his governance. He called it a historic win and vowed to continue the development trajectory with the slogan “Abua Raj, Abua Sarkar” (Our rule, our government).
Congress Holds Ground with Key Wins and Priyanka Gandhi’s Debut
While the BJP dominated Maharashtra and several other states, the Congress saw some victories of its own. The party retained its seat in Nanded and triumphed in all three Assembly bypolls in Karnataka. Additionally, General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi entered the Lok Sabha, marking her debut and joining her brother Rahul Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi in Parliament. This will be the first time in history that three members of the Nehru-Gandhi family will sit together in Parliament.
BJP’s National Bypoll Victory
The BJP also made significant strides in the bypolls across 48 Assembly constituencies in 14 states, with decisive wins in Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand. In Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, the BJP secured a major share of the bypoll seats. However, the party faced setbacks in Karnataka, Punjab, and West Bengal, where it split honours with the Congress in Madhya Pradesh. The Trinamool Congress also made a clean sweep of the six Assembly bypolls in West Bengal, continuing its dominance in the state.
Looking Ahead: BJP Strengthens Its National Position
The BJP’s sweeping victory in Maharashtra and its success in bypolls across India give the party renewed momentum ahead of the Winter session of Parliament. With an absolute majority in Maharashtra, the BJP is poised to further strengthen its hold in the state and nationally, while the opposition, particularly the Congress, will need to regroup in the face of these challenges. The ongoing political developments in Maharashtra and Jharkhand suggest that the balance of power in India’s regional politics is shifting, with new alliances and realignments emerging in the wake of these historic results.
