Three prominent Indian politicians – Sharad Pawar, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and Sanjay Raut – face an uncertain future in the Rajya Sabha. Their current terms are set to expire in 2026 and 2028, but their parties lack the necessary votes to secure their re-election.
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde celebrated a 'landslide victory' for the Mahayuti alliance in the assembly polls, thanking voters for their support. Shinde emphasized the alliance's focus on development and implementation of schemes like the 'Ladki Bahin' program. He also acknowledged Prime Minister Modi's role in the win, citing significant financial support from the central government.
The ruling Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections, winning 230 out of 288 seats. Key factors contributing to their win include the popularity of the Ladki Bahin Yojana cash transfer scheme for women, consolidation of OBC and pro-Hindutva votes, and strategic counter-campaigns addressing concerns raised during the previous Lok Sabha elections.
Cash handouts emerged as a key factor in recent state elections, with Maharashtra and Jharkhand witnessing parties promising increased direct transfers to voters. While these schemes come at a significant cost to state finances, they are seen as crucial for securing votes, particularly from women.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife, Kalpana Soren, secured victories in the assembly elections. Former CM Champai Soren also won on a BJP ticket. The Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha, a new political force, gained a seat. Notable losers include Sudesh Mahto, Amar Bauri, and Banna Gupta.
The Aam Aadmi Party celebrated victory in three out of four Punjab Assembly by-elections, marking their first-ever wins in those constituencies. AAP MP Raghav Chadha attributed the success to the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the popularity of Arvind Kejriwal.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar stressed the strategic importance of the semiconductor industry, comparing it to the next global battleground. He highlighted India's renewed focus on semiconductor manufacturing, citing recent partnerships and investments as evidence of the government's commitment to becoming a major player in the sector.
The BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance has secured a resounding victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections, winning 236 seats in the 288-member assembly. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 132 seats. The opposition MVA alliance suffered a crushing defeat, with internal divisions and the popularity of the Mahayuti's welfare schemes cited as contributing factors.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in a sweeping victory, secured the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll seat. Expressing gratitude towards the people of Wayanad and her family, she acknowledged her brother Rahul Gandhi's contributions and the unwavering support of her mother, husband, and children, Raihan and Miraya.
The Congress party expresses surprise at the unexpected victory of the Mahayuti alliance in the Maharashtra elections. They plan to thoroughly analyze the results and investigate concerns regarding electoral transparency, citing discrepancies between the recent state elections and the Lok Sabha results.
Congress candidate Rahul Mamkootathil won the Palakkad Assembly by-election by a margin of 18,840 votes, retaining the seat for the UDF. Mamkootathil secured 58,389 votes, defeating BJP's C Krishnakumar and LDF's P Sarin. The by-election, necessitated by Shafi Parambil's resignation, saw controversies including Sarin's switch to LDF and allegations of voter list irregularities.
