Rajdeep Sardesai's takeaways on Maharashtra civic body elections
There is a saffron surge across Maharashtra. The BJP has emerged as the party number one in India's second most populous state.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will carry out a nationwide protest today against Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's arrest in the Delhi liquor scam case. Sisodia was arrested after nearly eight hours of questioning on various aspects of the excise policy for 2021-22 in connection with alleged corruption in the now-scrapped policy relating to the sale of alcohol. The national capital has been put on alert in view of the protests and elaborate security arrangements have been made by the Delhi Police to maintain law and order situation.
Election to the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly is underway today, February 27. Voting began at 7 am sharp, with 369 candidates in the fray. The ruling National People's Party is facing a tough fight from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is contesting the polls from all 60 seats. The Congress, which once ruled Meghalaya in coalition with smaller regional parties, is eyeing a comeback in the state. The Trinamool Congress is also attempting to unseat the incumbent government from power.
The voting for Nagaland Assembly elections is currently underway. Over 13 lakh voters will choose from 183 candidates contesting in 59 out of a total of 60 seats. Polling began at 7 am and will continue till 4 pm. The ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) is contesting in alliance with the BJP. The NDPP is contesting on 40 seats and the BJP on 20 seats. The opposition Congress and the Naga People's Front are contesting in 23 and 22 seats.
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.