• Source:JND
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The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), is poised to secure a decisive victory in Maharashtra Assembly polls, defeating the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. The BJP is on track to emerge as the single largest party in the state. This outcome has come as a major shock to the opposition, who had believed they could displace the Mahayuti government.

Several key factors contributed to the MVA's poor performance, with the BJP's strategic moves and policies playing a significant role in shaping the results.

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The Success of ‘Ladli Behan Yojana’

One of the most significant factors in the Mahayuti's victory was the success of the Ladli Behan Yojana. This initiative directly targeted women voters, offering them financial benefits in the run-up to the elections. Over 2.5 crore women in Maharashtra received five instalments of Rs 1,500 each under this scheme. The scheme’s appeal to women voters was significant, leading to an increase of over 53 lakh women voters compared to 2019. Their voting percentage rose by six percentage points, a clear indication of the influence this scheme had.

Additionally, the Mahayuti capitalised on this program by promising an increase in financial assistance to Rs 2,100 per woman, further strengthening their position.

The Flip in Vidarbha and Farmers’ Issues

Another crucial element in the Mahayuti’s victory was the flip in the Vidarbha region. Traditionally, Vidarbha has been a stronghold for the Congress-NCP alliance, but the BJP managed to garner significant support there due to the promise of farm loan waivers. This strategy helped the Mahayuti create a strong voter base in this critical region, contributing to the overall victory.

Consolidation of Hindu Votes

The strong consolidation of Hindu votes in the Mahayuti’s favour was another factor that helped secure the alliance's win. The BJP capitalised on this with targeted messaging, particularly using Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan “Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain” (United We Are Safe). This slogan resonated deeply with Hindu voters, reinforcing their sense of unity and security under a BJP government. In addition, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s provocative remark, “Katenge to Batenge,” further amplified this consolidation, ensuring that the Mahayuti gained strong support from Hindu voters, especially in regions with a significant Hindu population.

The Role of the RSS Network

Perhaps one of the most decisive strategies for the Mahayuti was the extensive use of RSS-backed mobilisation efforts. Over 60,000 secret meetings were held across Maharashtra by the RSS to mobilise voters in favour of the BJP. This grassroots strategy was crucial in reaching out to rural and urban voters alike, ensuring that the BJP’s message reached all corners of the state. This approach had already been successfully tested in Haryana, where over 17,000 similar meetings had been conducted, making it clear that this method of mobilization could be highly effective.

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Weaknesses of the MVA Alliance

The MVA, consisting of Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress, failed to match the BJP’s strategic outreach. The alliance’s internal contradictions and leadership issues weakened its position. The lack of a cohesive strategy to target key voter demographics such as women and farmers, combined with poor coordination among the alliance partners, contributed to their underperformance. Moreover, the alliance partners remained at loggerheads till the last moment over ticket distribution.