Maharashtra Assembly Election Result 2024: Shiv Sena’s Uday Samant triumphs in Ratnagiri
In a decisive victory, Uday Ravindra Samant of the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde has won the Ratnagiri Assembly seat with a commanding margin of 41,590 votes. His closest rival, Bal Mane of the Shiv Sena UBT (United Breakaway Tigris), trailed in second place.
The vote counting for the high-stakes Maharashtra Assembly elections, which began on Saturday, concluded with the results indicating a tense and closely contested battle in several constituencies. Ratnagiri, located in Maharashtra’s coastal region, has been one of the focal points of this election, with its rich agricultural landscape and picturesque villages adding to the political significance of the seat.
With an overall voter turnout of 66% across Maharashtra, the Ratnagiri constituency saw a respectable 63% voter participation, reflecting the high level of political engagement in the region. The race in Ratnagiri was widely anticipated to be a key battleground between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition. This seat is part of the larger Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency, which has often seen fierce competition.
Key Candidates in the Fray
Uday Ravindra Samant (Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde) – The current sitting MLA, Samant, is seeking re-election as part of the Mahayuti alliance, which also includes the BJP and other smaller regional allies. He won the 2019 election by a massive margin and is expected to be a strong contender again.
Bal Mane (Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray) – A former MLA and ex-BJP leader, Mane has joined the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction. His candidacy adds another layer of complexity to the Shiv Sena divide, with voters having to choose between the two factions.
Bharat Sitaram Pawar (Bahujan Samaj Party) – Representing the BSP, Pawar is a lesser-known candidate, though his presence in the race reflects the diversity of the political landscape in Ratnagiri.
Independent Candidates – Five independent candidates are also in the fray, though they are unlikely to secure a significant portion of the vote share given the strong divide between the Shiv Sena factions.
Key Issues:
One of the most contentious issues in this election has been the proposed refinery project in Barsu village, which has divided the electorate. The project, backed by the Maharashtra government, promises economic growth and job creation, but it has met with fierce opposition from locals concerned about large-scale land acquisitions in a region known for its agricultural produce. Villagers in Barsu, Shivne, and Goval have been protesting the loss of their land, fearing that the project will disrupt their livelihoods and environmental balance.
Adding to the discontent is the nearby Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant, which has already sparked protests in the region in the past. The fear of more industrial projects in the area has fueled a sense of local disillusionment, with many residents arguing that the region has long been neglected in terms of development.
Last Election Result
In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly Elections, Uday Samant of the undivided Shiv Sena won the Ratnagiri seat with a commanding 72.66% vote share, securing 1,18,484 votes. His closest rival, Sudesh Sadanand Mayekar of the NCP, could only muster 31,149 votes. Samant’s impressive victory marked his stronghold in the region, but with the split in the Shiv Sena and the growing protests, his re-election bid is now under close scrutiny.