A year after losing the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is finding it difficult to hold its camp together. As many as 43 candidates who lost the election on MVA tickets have now crossed over to the ruling Mahayuti alliance, most of them joining the BJP. Along with them, three Independent candidates have also shifted to the ruling side, adding to the Opposition’s worries.
An overall analysis shows that out of the 46 leaders who switched sides, 26 went to the BJP, 13 joined Ajit Pawar’s NCP, and seven moved to Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. Interestingly, even a former candidate of the ruling NCP has left his party to join the BJP.
How MVA performed in 2024 and the regions hit defections
In the 2024 Assembly elections, the Mahayuti alliance swept the state by securing a total of 235 out of 288 seats. The BJP alone bagged 132, followed by the Shinde-led Shiv Sena with 57 and Ajit Pawar’s NCP with 41. Meanwhile, the MVA got a mere 50 seats, with 20 going to Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena (UBT), 16 for Congress, and 10 for Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP).
Most of the defections have taken place in areas which were earlier considered strongholds of the Sena. These cross-overs indicate how aggressively the ruling alliance is trying to strengthen itself after its big victory.
A senior NCP leader said the ruling parties are poaching Opposition runners-up because it “weakens the Opposition further” and also helps them plan for the 2029 elections, including dealing with internal coalition politics.
Sena (UBT) worst affected, followed by NCP(SP) and Congress
Among the MVA partners, Sena (UBT) seems to have suffered the most, as 19 of its former candidates have joined the Mahayuti. For the NCP(SP), the loss is 13, while the Congress has lost 10. Joining them in the crossover are three Independent candidates and one from the PWP.
NCP(SP) candidate Salil Deshmukh, who emerged as the runner-up in the Katol seat, quit his party sometime back. However, he has not declared his future move so far, hence he is not being included in the list.
The BJP has put special focus on Marathwada, North Maharashtra and the Konkan region. In Marathwada, 16 MVA runners-up have switched sides. Out of these, eight joined the BJP, five went to the NCP, and three joined the Shinde Sena.
In North Maharashtra, 11 leaders have moved to the Mahayuti, with 10 joining the BJP and one going to the NCP.
The Konkan region, considered a traditional base for Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena (UBT), has seen five leaders go to the BJP, three to the Shinde Sena, and two to the NCP.
Political reactions and strategies of Mahayuti partners
Sena (UBT) has sharply criticised the poaching drive. Party spokesperson Harshal Pradhan accused the BJP of lacking strong local leaders and depending on “imported” faces. He also said that the BJP is “putting pressure” on Opposition leaders using central agencies like the CBI and ED.
Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar seems focused on strengthening his base in Marathwada and Western Maharashtra. Of the 13 leaders inducted by his NCP, five are from Marathwada and four from Western Maharashtra. His new additions include six leaders from NCP(SP), three from Congress, two from Sena (UBT) and two Independents.
The Shinde Sena has also expanded, taking in five Sena (UBT) runners-up, three of whom are from Konkan and two from Marathwada, besides inducting one leader each from Congress and NCP(SP).
