Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule were even frying jalebis as jubilation started to pour in for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which is set for a historic victory in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections.
#WATCH | Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, prepare jalebi as BJP-led Mahayuti is set to form the government in the state#MaharashtraElection2024 pic.twitter.com/mMLWqlLpwN
— ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024
BJP to record a historic performance leading in around 129 of the 288 constituencies. More importantly, the Mahayuti alliance led by BJP, Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, is likely to have its candidates occupying over 200 seats, confidently crossing the majority mark. This will ensure an ironclad grip for the BJP in the western state.
Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the scene is very different, with the JMM-led INDIA bloc leading the pack of the BJP-led NDA. According to the latest updates of the Election Commission of India, the BJP is currently ahead in 127 seats in Maharashtra and 26 in Jharkhand.
Fadnavis and Bawankule’s act of making jalebis is symbolic of the celebratory mood in the BJP camp with the party consolidating its presence in Maharashtra. The sweet gesture, therefore, denotes the confidence that the alliance carries to continue working for the development of the state under the Mahayuti umbrella.
The diverging trends in Maharashtra and Jharkhand reflect a regional difference in voters’ preferences, with the BJP appearing better in Maharashtra and relatively at par in Jharkhand.
With the BJP-led alliance firmly set to retain Maharashtra, that victory spotlights the party’s organizational strength along with a thumbs-up from the electorate for its governance and development agenda.