Uncertainty looms over government formation in Maharashtra as the results of the elections will be announced on November 23, leaving both MVA and Mahayuti alliances with just 72 hours to form a government before the current Assembly’s term ends on November 26. Failure to do so could lead to the imposition of the President’s rule in the state.
Most exit polls predict a win for Mahayuti
The contest in Maharashtra is between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi. While several exit polls predict a win for the Mahayuti, at least three surveys suggest that neither bloc will likely secure the required majority of 145 seats in the 288-member Assembly. This could result in a hung Assembly, a scenario that Maharashtra has faced after previous elections in 2014 and 2019.
In the event of a hung Assembly, the formation of a government may depend on smaller parties or independents, leading to intense negotiations and alliances.
Who will become the CM?
Even if an alliance secures a majority, disagreements over the chief ministerial post could delay the process. In the MVA, multiple leaders, including Uddhav Thackeray, are seen as contenders for the top job.
Meanwhile, within the Mahayuti, tensions exist between Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis, with both leaders eyeing the chief minister’s position. Shinde’s work on welfare schemes has bolstered his image, but Fadnavis’s call for Hindu vote consolidation has strengthened his case.
Possible scenario
If no government is formed by November 26, the Governor of Maharashtra may recommend President’s rule under Article 356 of the Constitution. This provision allows the central government to take over the state’s administration if constitutional machinery breaks down.
Maharashtra has witnessed President’s rule three times since its formation in 1960. The most recent instance was in 2019, following a deadlock between the BJP and Shiv Sena over power-sharing. The impasse led to an 11-day President’s rule before the formation of the MVA government.
As the clock ticks towards November 26, all eyes are on the political manoeuvres that will unfold in the critical hours after the announcement of the results on November 23. The Maharashtra politics couldn’t get more interesting.
