Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, confident in the Mahayuti coalition’s chances in the November 20 assembly election, has urged citizens to prepare for an unprecedented victory celebration on November 23, when the results are due. Shinde projected the win as a reflection of Mahayuti’s commitment to “delivery-oriented governance,” drawing parallels with recent successes in Haryana, where he attended the oath-taking of Haryana’s new CM Nayab Singh Saini.
Addressing voters in Thane, Shinde emphasized his identity as a “common man’s CM,” highlighting accessible governance and youth-centric initiatives like the Ladki Bahin and apprenticeship schemes. He pointed to Maharashtra’s youth as the driving force behind these initiatives, reinforcing his promise to expand such programs.
Shinde contrasted Mahayuti’s focus on public welfare and developmental achievements with accusations of vendetta politics against the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) opposition. He stated that the MVA’s focus on alleged grievances with the Election Commission and EVMs indicated their “fear of impending defeat.” Shinde claimed that while Mahayuti is focused on policy, MVA is preoccupied with internal discussions over potential leadership roles.
The MVA, meanwhile, has raised concerns about the election’s fairness, voicing apprehensions about the influence of electronic voting and Election Commission oversight. As both sides prepare for a closely watched election, Mahayuti appears set on positioning itself as a development-focused choice for voters, while MVA intensifies its scrutiny on election protocols, anticipating a challenging electoral battle.
