The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is set for a landslide in Maharashtra, with the BJP returning as the state’s largest party. Meanwhile in Jharkhand, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress coalition will retain power for a third straight term in Jharkhand.
The ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, comprising the BJP, NCP (Ajit Pawar) and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, has sailed well past the majority mark of 145 in the 288-member Assembly.
Addressing a post-victory press briefing, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, attributed their success to the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a women-centric welfare scheme, stating it to be a game-changer. Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar, Devendra Fadnavis were leading in Kopri-Pachpakhadi, Baramati and Nagpur South West constituencies respectively. However, the MVA alliance which faced a crushing defeat, rejected the results as rigged.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed development and good governance after Mahayuti’s win in Maharashtra. The Prime Minister expressed heartfelt gratitude to the people of the state, especially the youth and the women for their historic mandate. He added that being united they will soar even higher.
PM Modi also thanked the people of Jharkhand for their support towards NDA. He assured that his party will always be at the forefront of raising people’s issues and working for the state. He also congratulated the JMM-led alliance for their performance in the state.
The Congress said the people of Jharkhand had decisively rejected the politics of polarisation, and expressed surprise over the Maharashtra result.
Though Jharkhand initially witnessed a tough battle, eventually the ruling coalition led by Hemant Soren’s JMM went past the majority mark of 41 in the 81-member assembly.
The INDIA bloc reclaimed power for a third term in Jharkhand, edging the BJP-led NDA in a closely fought race. CM Hemant Soren in his post-victory speech said that they passed the exam of democracy in the state. The Chief Minister won from Barhait. BJP state chief Babulal Marandi led in Dhanwar, and former CM Champai Soren, who joined BJP recently, defeated JMM’s Ganesh Mahali in Seraikela.