Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, along with its allies, is on track to retain power in Maharashtra, India’s wealthiest state, according to reports by television channels on Saturday.
In Maharashtra, which includes Mumbai, India’s financial hub, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance is leading in 221 out of 288 seats. On the other hand, the opposition Congress party and its allies are ahead in 55 seats, as per local media reports.
Key Developments in Maharashtra and Jharkhand
Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra’s chief minister, shared on social media platform X, “The Mahayuti government… has achieved undisputed and resounding success.”
Despite setbacks earlier this year, when Modi’s party lost its parliamentary majority during elections held from April to June, the BJP has bounced back. They relied on alliances to form a government after those elections and recently secured victories in Haryana’s state elections.
In Jharkhand, a state rich in minerals, the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), in alliance with Congress, is poised to defeat the BJP and its partners to reclaim control, according to media updates.
Political Strategies and Voting Blocks
Both Maharashtra and Jharkhand political campaigns focused heavily on promising benefits for farmers and women, who are key voter groups in these states. Winning state elections is crucial for increasing a party’s numbers in the upper house of parliament, a critical factor for legislative decisions.
The final results for Maharashtra and Jharkhand are expected to be announced later on Saturday.
