Power play

The Maharashtra Assembly elections have become a dynamic battleground where political ambitions, alliances, and rivalries intersect in complex ways.

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The contest between the Mahayuti alliance - comprising chief minister Eknath Shinde's breakaway Shiv Sena, the BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party ~ and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), a coalition of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP faction loyal to Mr Sharad Pawar, promises a unique political drama. With six parties navigating intra-and inter-coalition tensions, the outcome may set the stage for future power dynamics in Maharashtra. At the heart of the Mahayuti, the BJP's ambition to reclaim the chief minister's position adds friction. Mr Shinde has defied expectations, proving a capable administrator. The BJP has fielded candidates in over 140 seats and has no intention of playing second fiddle again. It sees this election as an opportunity to gain enough seats to command Maharashtra's leadership, potentially at the expense of its regional p