The 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, held on November 20, have been a significant political event, marking the battle for dominance across 288 constituencies in a single-phase voting process. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance is vying for another term, while the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) seeks a strong comeback. Against this backdrop of fierce political rivalry, voting day brought forth various logistical, social, and political challenges that offer a deeper insight into the democratic process.
Issues impacting voting in Maharashtra Assembly Elections
- Technical glitches in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)
The efficiency of the voting process was tested when an electronic voting machine malfunctioned at polling booth number 210 in the Kothrud constituency, located in Annasaheb Patil Primary School. The fault occurred around 8:00 AM, just an hour after polling began. The machine displayed an invalid status due to a wiring issue, causing a 30-minute delay.
Early voters, many of whom had arrived to cast their votes before heading to work, expressed frustration. One voter spoke to The Indian Express and stated that “I came early to vote and avoid delays at work, but the machine fault ended up delaying me anyway.” Another onlooker described to the IE reporter that the incident as ironic, given the significance of the election. Sector officer Pradeep Rangdale explained that the technical team responded promptly to fix the wiring, which had been disturbed by the morning rush. Despite resolution, the incident raised concerns about EVM reliability and the preparedness of election officials.
- Protests and boycotts by the Transgender community
A political statement emerged from Pune, where members of the transgender community chose to boycott the elections. This decision, led by Manasi Goilkar of the Shrikhandi Trust, was driven by the community’s long-standing demand for vertical reservation, which has consistently been ignored by political parties and candidates.
The district has 805 registered transgender voters, but activists claim the actual number exceeds 10,000 due to underreporting and societal stigma. Goilkar criticised political leaders for neglecting the community’s issues, stating, “None of the parties or candidates even came to meet us or try to raise our issues,” as per a report of the Hindustan Times.
The neglect extended to Shameebha Patil, the lone transgender candidate contesting from Raver constituency under the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). During her campaign, Patil allegedly faced sexist and derogatory remarks from opponents, further highlighting the systemic discrimination faced by the community. The boycott by the transgender community sheds light on the broader issue of political apathy towards marginalised groups.
- Allegations against the Election Commission
The integrity of the Election Commission was called into question during polling day, with allegations of bias and corruption surfacing from various quarters. Specific incidents, such as barricading in Nagpur Central, led to claims that the Commission had compromised its neutrality and sided with ruling parties.
People have accused the Election Commission of failing to uphold the principles of free and fair elections. The Opposition’s statements added to the charged atmosphere, with some claiming this was indicative of a broader erosion of democratic norms in the electoral process. Voting for the Maharashtra assembly election concluded at 6 pm. The state has recorded 58.22% per cent voter turnout till 5 pm after a slow start. As per reports, Gadchiroli recorded the highest voter turnout at 69.63%, while Mumbai city recorded the lowest at 49.07%.
Within Mumbai city, Mahim recorded the highest voter turnout at 55.23% while 41.64% turnout was recorded in Colaba, which was the lowest.
Within Mumbai suburban, Bhandup West recorded the highest voter turnout at 60.18% while 47.05% turnout was recorded in Chandivali, which was the lowest.
Mahayuti Alliance: Campaigning on welfare and polarisation
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), approached the elections with a dual focus on welfare schemes and polarising slogans. Campaigns centred around initiatives like “Majhi Ladki Bahin” for women, while slogans such as “Batenge toh katenge” and “Ek hai toh safe hai” were used to rally support. These slogans, however, drew criticism from the Opposition, who accused the alliance of fostering divisions along communal lines.
The seat distribution within Mahayuti was as follows:
– BJP: 149 seats
– Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction): 81 seats
– NCP (Ajit Pawar faction): 59 seats
Despite these efforts, internal contradictions were visible, with leaders like Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar having to clarify or distance themselves from controversial campaign messages.
Maha Vikas Aghadi: A focus on social justice
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), a coalition of the Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction), and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), aimed to counter Mahayuti’s polarisation tactics with a focus on inclusivity and constitutional values. Their campaign advocated for a caste-based census and social justice initiatives, appealing to voters disenchanted with the ruling government.
Seat allocation for MVA was as follows:
– Congress: 101 seats
– Shiv Sena (UBT): 95 seats
– NCP (Sharad Pawar faction): 86 seats
Leaders such as Rahul Gandhi and Sharad Pawar criticised the BJP’s governance and campaign strategies, framing the MVA as a more progressive and equitable choice for voters.
Smaller players and independent candidates
The elections also saw participation from smaller parties such as the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which contested 237 seats, and AIMIM, which fielded candidates in 17 constituencies. An impressive 28% rise in candidates was noted this year, with over 4,000 individuals in the fray, including 2,086 independents. This increase points to growing dissent within major alliances, as many rebel candidates challenged official nominees.
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