Maharashtra’s 2024 election results reveal a significant setback for Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which is poised to secure the fewest seats among the state’s major political parties. Pawar, who has hinted at stepping back from active politics after his Rajya Sabha term ends in 2026, is experiencing his worst electoral performance. His NCP, in alliance with the Samajwadi Party (NCP-SP), has won only one seat so far and is leading in just 11 constituencies. In contrast, the Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction, is comfortably positioned to win another term.
Ajit Pawar, who fielded fewer candidates than Sharad Pawar’s faction, has seen greater success, with the BJP contesting 148 seats, Shiv Sena 80, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP 53. The remaining seats were divided among smaller parties. The Congress fielded 103 candidates, and Shiv Sena (UBT) contested 89 seats, while NCP (SP) put forward 87 candidates.
By 2:15 PM on election day, the Mahayuti alliance had already crossed the majority threshold, securing eight seats and leading in more than 200 constituencies. Celebrations broke out at the residences of Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis, with the BJP’s Mumbai office also buzzing with activity.
In Baramati, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar celebrated with supporters as he maintained a strong lead of over 15,000 votes. Other prominent NCP leaders like Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare joined in the festivities at Devagiri.
Looking back at the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the NCP won 54 seats, outperforming its ally Congress, which secured 44. This year, however, the NCP is set to have the least number of seats among major political parties, trailing even Congress and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena.
The elections for Maharashtra’s 288-member Assembly were held in a single phase on November 20, 2024, and the results continue to unfold.
