Intra-party rivalries: Shinde wins Sena legacy, Ajit claims Pawar's mantle

Assembly poll rout raises question of existence for Sharad Pawar's political legacy, Uddhav Thackeray may struggle to keep his decimated flock together

NEW DELHI: Seismic shifts have upended Maharashtra's political landscape after the Assembly elections. Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena faction and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) emerged as dominant forces, delivering decisive blows to Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP). The results not only settled fierce intra-party rivalries but also signaled a new era in Maharashtra politics.

Eknath Shinde, once dismissed as a rebel, has cemented his position as the true inheritor of Bal Thackeray's Shiv Sena legacy. His faction, in alliance with the BJP and Ajit Pawar's NCP, secured a resounding victory, winning at least 57 of the 81 seats it contested.

Shinde's triumph was particularly striking in constituencies contested directly against Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), where his faction won 38 out of 49 seats. Shinde's popularity, rooted in grassroots appeal and populist schemes, played a key role. His administration's initiatives, such as the Ladki Bahin Yojna, resonated strongly with women voters.

In his own constituency of Kopari Pachpakhadi, Shinde defeated UBT's Kedar Dighe by over 1.2 lakh votes, a staggering margin that underscored his dominance. Across regions like Mumbai, Thane, and Vidarbha, Shinde loyalists claimed significant victories, with candidates like Pratap Sarnaik in Ovala Majiwada leading by 1,08,158 votes.

"Shinde Sahab's connection with Shiv Sainiks and his commitment to welfare schemes secured this mandate," said Dasrath Patil, deputy leader of the Shiv Sena. "Unlike Uddhav Thackeray, who focused on personal attacks, Shinde worked tirelessly for the people," he said.