Maharashtra Elections 2024: 8 key issues that will shape voters' choices

Maharashtra's 9.7 crore voters will head to the polls on November 20 for the 288-seat assembly. Four out of six major parties—Shiv Sena, Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Nationalist Congress Party Sharadchandra Pawar—claim to be the authentic version. Shiv Sena and NCP are allied with the BJP, while Shiv Sena UBT and NCP-SP have partnered with Congress. Here are the key issues that will influence voter choices in this election.

A few months ago, the Mahayuti alliance seemed poised for a loss, following their defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. However, after prolonged seat-sharing talks and BJP's success in Haryana, the Mahayuti alliance has gained renewed momentum, hoping for a repeat of its 2019 assembly win. Despite Shiv Sena and BJP forming a government in 2019, Shiv Sena later defected to join Congress and NCP. In 2022, Eknath Shinde split from Shiv Sena to ally with the BJP, while Ajit Pawar split from NCP and joined forces with the BJP.

Aside from Congress and BJP, alliances seem fluid as parties are willing to partner with anyone to gain power. Several leaders in the fray have a history of switching sides. For instance, Nana Patole, the Congress chief, moved from Congress to BJP and then back to Congress. Vijay Wadettiwar, the opposition leader, was once with Shiv Sena before joining Congress. If any party struggles to secure enough seats, these turncoat leaders could prove decisive.

After their defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, Mahayuti acknowledged inflation as a critical issue. In response, the state government implemented the "Ladki Bahin" scheme, providing Rs 1,500 per month to women aged 21-65 who earn Rs 2.5 lakh or less annually. This initiative targets two crore women beneficiaries and aims to shift the balance in favor of the BJP-led alliance. Even if half of these women voters back Mahayuti, it could swing the election in their favor.

Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil has criticized BJP for excluding Marathas from the OBC quota. In Marathwada, a region dominated by Marathas, this issue has stirred significant discontent. To counter this, the Mahayuti government is focusing on mobilizing support from other communities like tribals and OBCs, offering representation through newly formed corporations for smaller groups such as Agris, Vani-Vani, Lohar, Shimpi, and Gavali.

This election is likely to witness a large number of rebels and independent candidates, potentially leading to a hung assembly. Currently, BJP has 43 rebels, Shiv Sena has 10, and NCP has 14. Vidarbha, which holds 62 seats, will be a battleground, with MVA facing 28 rebel candidates and Mahayuti 19. Both Congress and BJP will focus heavily on Vidarbha, a region that played a significant role in BJP’s 2014 victory but saw a decline in BJP’s performance in the subsequent elections.

This election has become a contest of promises, with both alliances offering an array of freebies. Mahayuti has pledged Rs 1,500 for women under the Ladki Bahin scheme, while MVA has upped the ante by promising Rs 2,000. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has promised Rs 2,100, along with farm loan waivers, pension increases for senior citizens, and a 30% reduction in electricity bills. MVA promises include Rs 3,000 per month for women, free bus travel, farm loan waivers, health insurance, and Rs 4,000 per month for educated unemployed youths.

With almost half of Maharashtra’s population living in rural areas, the state faces frequent natural calamities that affect agriculture, such as unseasonal rains and hailstorms. Farmers, especially onion producers, were upset by the onion export ban during the Lok Sabha polls. Though the ban was lifted just before the elections, it hurt the Mahayuti alliance. To address farmer grievances, Mahayuti has promised farm loan waivers.

Unemployment has emerged as a critical issue, with many candidates pledging to establish Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) centers in their constituencies to attract companies. The migration of projects from Maharashtra to Gujarat has sparked resentment, particularly among the state's youth, fueling a demand for more job opportunities.