Reportedly the results of the maharashtra assembly elections showcased a massive victory for the Mahayuti alliance, reminiscent of the 2014 Modi wave. The opposition maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was decimated, with uddhav Thackeray’s shiv sena (UBT) securing only 20 seats. A surprising factor in the polls, however, was the role of raj Thackeray’s maharashtra navnirman sena (MNS) in indirectly aiding his cousin uddhav Thackeray’s party.
Meanwhile political analysts suggest that without the MNS fielding candidates in critical constituencies, uddhav Thackeray’s shiv sena (UBT) would have been limited to just 10 seats, with most of the remaining seats going to Eknath Shinde’s shiv sena faction. The MNS is said to have played a decisive role in eight of these constituencies, including high-profile ones like Worli, Mahim, and Bandra East. The MNS’s strategic fielding of candidates in mumbai and other key areas indirectly benefited Uddhav’s faction, helping it retain its urban stronghold. Seats like Worli, Mahim, and Bandra east were particularly critical for this outcome.
Moreover for Eknath Shinde’s faction, the MNS’s performance came as a setback. Analysts estimate that Shinde’s shiv sena could have gained 10 additional seats had the MNS not fielded candidates in these constituencies. The vote division allowed Uddhav’s faction to secure crucial victories, leaving Shinde with fewer seats than anticipated. Though the MNS failed to win a single seat, the party’s performance has become a talking point in Maharashtra’s political circles. raj Thackeray’s indirect influence on the election outcomes highlights his potential to sway the state’s political landscape. The MNS’s role in splitting votes has opened up possibilities for new alliances and strategies in future elections.
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