Cracks Appear In Mahayuti, MVA Alliances As Maharashtra CM Race Intensifies

As Maharashtra prepares to count votes for its 288-seat assembly on November 23, internal divisions appear to be growing within both the ruling Mahayuti coalition and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) over who will lead the next government. Leaders from both alliances are vying for the chief minister's position, revealing significant discord within their ranks.

With voting concluding on Wednesday, the stage is set for fierce political manoeuvring, with both alliances confident of securing the mandate.

MVA's Chief Ministerial Controversy

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole ignited controversy within the MVA by declaring that if the alliance forms the government, it will be led by Congress.

"Voting trends suggest that Congress will win the most seats," Patole claimed.

This statement provoked a sharp response from MVA ally Shiv Sena (UBT), with senior leader Sanjay Raut asserting that the decision on who will be the CM would be made collectively by all alliance partners.

"If the Congress high command has chosen Patole, senior leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, or Rahul Gandhi should announce it," Raut said, as reported by news agency PTI.

The MVA, a coalition of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), has presented itself as a unified opposition against the Mahayuti government. However, Patole's comments highlight the internal tensions within the bloc.

Mahayuti's CM Contenders

In the Mahayuti camp, Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat reiterated that the election was fought under the leadership of current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, describing him as the natural choice for the top position.

However, BJP leader Pravin Darekar expressed support for Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while NCP leader Amol Mitkari advocated for his party chief, Ajit Pawar, to take the role.

"All three Mahayuti partners will decide the CM together," Darekar said, dismissing the MVA's chances of forming the next government. He also criticised the opposition for its "internal rifts," citing incidents such as Congress MP Praniti Shinde supporting an independent candidate against a Shiv Sena (UBT) nominee in Solapur.

Exit Polls and Allegations

While most exit polls suggest a Mahayuti victory, some show favour towards the MVA. Darekar dismissed the exit polls, stressing that independent candidates are likely to support the ruling coalition.

He further alleged that MVA leaders, including NCP MP Supriya Sule and Congress's Nana Patole, were involved in illegal activities, such as using bitcoins to fund elections-claims that both leaders have denied.

Turnout Surge and Women's Support

The Election Commission of India reported a voter turnout of 66.05%, an increase from 61.1% in 2019. Darekar credited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for mobilising voters at the grassroots level and attributed Mahayuti's popularity among women voters to the government's Ladki Bahin Yojana initiative.

With both alliances locked in internal disputes and pre-emptively claiming victory, the race for the chief minister's post promises to be as fiercely contested as the election itself.