Row over CM post, resort politics: How NDA and INDIA bloc prepare for Maharashtra and Jharkhand mandate | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The BJP-led NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc will keep their fingers crossed a day before counting of votes in Maharashtra and Jharkhand as they eagerly await the people’s verdict in the two states .
With the exit polls producing a wide range of predictions, both camps are preparing for all eventualities and possibilities. With some exit polls predicting a neck-and-neck battle, the parties are busy preparing their Plan B, and even Plan C, to deal with the possible challenges that may come their way after the actual numbers are out.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi The voters have decided to house all their newly elected MLAs together in Mumbai after the election results. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the measure is aimed at preventing poaching ahead of government formation. Congress has appointed observers for both states to monitor post-election scenarios. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has deputed Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and G Parameshwara as AICC observers to Maharashtra with immediate effect, while for Jharkhand Tariq Anwar, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Krishna Allavuru have been appointed as observers.
See also: Maharashtra Assembly Election Results
On the Mahayuti side, Union minister and RPI(A) chief Ramdas Athawale claimed that Maharashtra’s ruling alliance is confident of victory but is still in touch with several independents. If Maharashtra’s mandate is violated, the state could see a wave of political activity, including defections and even reshuffles.
In 2019, the state witnessed one of the largest political realignments about the CM post when the then divided Shiv Sena dumped BJP to join hands with old nemesis NCP and Congress Party, paving the way for Uddhav Thackeray to take oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister under the Maha Vikas Agahadi alliance.
In 2022, the Shiv Sena, the largest party in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), saw a vertical split as Eknath Shinde and 39 other MLAs revolted against Uddhav Thackeray and joined hands with BJP.
The defection of a majority of Sena MLAs led to the collapse of the MVA government, prompting Uddhav to resign as CM.
Several political leaders credited Fadnavis for bringing about the split in Shiv Sena. The BJP leader himself admitted to playing a key role in the Shinde-led rebellion and called it “an act of revenge”.
Later, in a surprise move, the BJP leadership decided to give the chief minister’s post to Shinde, whose rebellion helped the NDA return to power in the state.
However, the Mahayuti suffered a major setback in the Lok Sabha polls this year as the ruling alliance could win only 17 seats out of 48 seats, while the MVA won 31 seats, including one independent candidate.
While considering the possibility of a reshuffle in Maharashtra, Jharkhand is not far off as the exit polls have projected the assembly to be stuck in the state, with the BJP-led NDA and the JMM-led INDIA bloc embroiled in a neck-and-neck race.
However, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s JMM on Thursday rejected the exit polls, giving the BJP-led NDA an edge, and asserted that the INDIA bloc would return for another term with a bigger mandate.
Reacting to JMM’s claims, the BJP said it was a last-minute attempt to console their dejected party workers. “There are only two days left. JMM and Congress can pat themselves on the back, but the reality is that the people of Jharkhand have voted for change this time,” said BJP state spokesperson Pradeep Sinha.
Regardless of the party’s claims, there is no suspense that if Jharkhand’s electorate were to stage a hung assembly, as predicted by the exit polls, the state could see a shift in loyalties.