Congress fields Kanhaiya Kumar from North East Delhi, Charanjit Channi from Jalandhar

There is a saffron surge across Maharashtra. The BJP has emerged as the party number one in India's second most populous state.

On this Special Report, Rajdeep Sardesai leads a panel discussion on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra following recent municipal and local election results. The discussion features Sahil Joshi, Yashwant Deshmukh, and Girish Kuber, who analyze the emergence of Devendra Fadnavis as the state's dominant leader. Sardesai notes, 'Is Hindutva plus Vikas now the winning formula?' as the panel explores how the BJP has successfully combined infrastructure development with ideological posturing. The experts highlight the decline of traditional allies like Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, suggesting they have 'taken a hit' while the BJP consolidates power. The program also examines the Congress party's struggle to maintain its relevance against the BJP's strategic targeting of local leaders. Furthermore, the panel discusses the 'normalization' of Hindutva politics in a state historically known for the progressive values of Phule, Shahu, and Ambedkar, concluding that Maharashtra is increasingly moving toward a right-wing political duopoly.

On this news bulletin, Congress National Spokesperson Dr. Shama Mohamed challenges the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding its alliance with leaders previously accused of corruption. Referring to the political landscape in Maharashtra, she states, 'I just want to tell her that Ajit Pawar was accused of corruption, not by the Congress party,' highlighting that the allegations were originally made by BJP leaders and the Prime Minister. Dr. Mohamed points out the cessation of Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigations against leaders like Narayan Rane and Pratap Sarnaik after they joined the ruling alliance. She further raises concerns regarding the influence of money in elections and the lack of investigation into funding sources following the Supreme Court's ruling on electoral bonds. The discussion explores the Congress party's strategy of 'Ekla Chalo' and its performance in the face of these political dynamics.

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance dominated 25 of 29 municipal elections, causing setbacks for the Thackeray and Pawar factions in their traditional bastions.