Union Minister Piyush Goyal has quashed speculation of leadership changes within the Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Following the party’s performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Goyal emphasized continuity and revealed that the BJP was diligently crafting a strategy for the upcoming assembly polls. The coalition of Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP, known as MahaYuti, aims to secure victory in the state elections later this year.
Addressing reporters after the Maharashtra BJP’s core group meeting, Goyal asserted, “There will be no change in leadership in Maharashtra.” The party’s core committee convened under the leadership of JP Nadda and Amit Shah at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi. Speculation had swirled around the potential appointment of Rao Saheb Patil as state president, while questions lingered about the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) within the ruling alliance.
Goyal revealed that BJP leaders deliberated on a comprehensive blueprint to ensure the MahaYuti alliance’s re-election in the upcoming assembly polls. The meeting, attended by senior BJP figures including BL Santosh, Bhupender Yadav, and Ashwini Vaishnaw, aimed to fine-tune their electoral strategy.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured nine seats in Maharashtra, a significant drop from its 2019 tally of 23. The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, which had triumphed in 41 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra during the 2019 elections, now holds a cumulative total of 17 seats. Seven of these belong to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, with one seat held by the NCP.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, recognizing the challenges, offered to step down from the MahaYuti government. His focus now lies on organizational efforts to secure victory in the September-October assembly polls. “We have prepared a blueprint for the upcoming assembly elections,” Fadnavis affirmed, emphasizing collaboration with MahaYuti partners.
Fadnavis highlighted a narrow margin between the vote share of the ruling MahaYuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The difference stands at a mere 0.3 per cent. The BJP leadership engaged in a thorough assessment of their performance during the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement.
As Maharashtra gears up for the assembly polls, the BJP remains steadfast in its commitment to the MahaYuti alliance and its vision for the state’s future. Now it will be interesting to see how BJP and allies retain government in the state with its robust organization and effective strategies dealing with new challenges.