Maharashtra Assembly Elections: Grand Alliance Triumphs, Ajit Pawar Confirmed as NCP Leader

The Grand Alliance's landslide Maharashtra win accelerates government formation talks, while BJP and Shinde's Shiv Sena hold meetings to finalise leadership and strategic decisions.

Mumbai: The Grand Alliance has secured a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, setting the stage for the government formation. Meetings among the three coalition partners are underway to finalise important decisions. Similarly, the BJP is holding a strategic session at Sagar Bungalow in Mumbai, attended by Devendra Fadnavis and Chandrashekhar Bawankule. Later in the evening, a meeting of Shinde's Shiv Sena MLAs will take place, during which the post of Legislature Group Leader will be decided.

Meanwhile, the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar held a meeting at Devagiri Bungalow, where Ajit Pawar was unanimously elected as the leader of the legislative group. Anil Patil, a former deputy in the previous government, was reappointed to the same role. These two major decisions mark a turning point for the NCP under Ajit Pawar's leadership.

Discussions during the NCP meeting reportedly touched on ministerial allocations and portfolio distribution with the NCP winning 41 seats in the elections.

The Grand Alliance has reportedly agreed on a leadership structure featuring one Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers with a swearing-in ceremony likely scheduled for Monday.

For weeks, questions lingered over which faction represented the "real" NCP. Following the election results, NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal clarified, "The confusion is over. The public has endorsed us, and Ajit Pawar’s leadership has been sealed as the rightful NCP."

Addressing the media after the meeting, Bhujbal attributed the Grand Alliance's success to its governance and schemes like the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which ensured financial benefits reached women directly through the finance department. "People have shown immense faith in us, particularly women voters whose turnout and support significantly boosted our vote share," he said.

This victory has solidified the Grand Alliance's hold on Maharashtra's political horizon, with Ajit Pawar emerging as a pivotal leader.