MahaYuti makes strong comeback in Vidarbha after setback in Lok Sabha polls

Vidarbha region was crucial to Mahayuti’s win

The MahaYuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, has staged a significant comeback in the Vidarbha region, leading in over 40 of the 62 Assembly seats. This resurgence marks a sharp turnaround from its disappointing performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where the alliance won only three out of 10 seats in the region.

In that election, the alliance’s prospects were hampered by the Opposition’s focus on issues like the proposed changes to the Constitution.

In the Assembly elections, the MahaYuti effectively countered the opposition by rallying behind the Hindutva agenda, deploying slogans like “Batenge toh katenge” (If we speak, we will face consequences) and “Ek hain toh safe hain” (One is safe if united).

The alliance also garnered support from farmers, particularly those growing cotton and soybean, by promising higher prices if re-elected, addressing concerns that had been simmering for years.

The BJP, which first broke the Congress stronghold in Vidarbha in 2014, has consolidated its power in the region. Despite a poor showing in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has gained ground in the Assembly, buoyed by the extensive campaigning of top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.

These leaders, who toured the region extensively, emphasized the need for a “double-engine” government, showcasing the BJP-led administration as the driver of development in the state while portraying the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) as anti-growth.

Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah also focused on the issue of Naxalism, pledging to intensify efforts to eradicate Naxal activities in regions like Gadchiroli.

This message resonated with voters who viewed the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and the MahaYuti government in Maharashtra as capable of handling the Naxal challenge effectively.

In contrast, the Congress, which had emerged as the dominant force in the MVA during the general elections, struggled to make an impact in the Assembly polls. The party’s campaign was lackluster, marked by infighting and poor coordination, with the wrong selection of candidates hurting its chances in Vidarbha.

Despite efforts from Congress leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi to rally voters, the party failed to regain its former stronghold in the region.

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena-led faction of the MVA and the NCP-SP alliance had little to no presence in Vidarbha, and their attempts to expand their influence yielded no significant results.

The MVA also failed to counter the BJP’s Hindutva rhetoric effectively, with issues like agrarian distress, unemployment, inflation, and the outflow of investments to other states failing to resonate with voters.

The RSS and its affiliates played a key role in revitalizing the BJP’s fortunes, energizing party cadres, and giving the MahaYuti a boost in Vidarbha. The alliance’s strategy to rally Dalit, Kunbi, Muslim, and Maratha voters, despite protests over Maratha and OBC reservations, proved successful.

MahaYuti offered free electricity to farmers, guaranteeing higher prices for cotton and soybean, and strengthening agricultural marketing, winning over a large section of the agrarian community.

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