The fresh phase of assembly elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and by-elections in Rajasthan, along with other states, presents a variety of election battlegrounds. The contest is shaped by a mix of political messaging, the battle to claim legacies, efforts to regain lost ground, political one-upmanship, and the ongoing struggle between the ideologies of major parties.

Rajasthan: War to gain political dominance

Let's first turn our attention to the by-elections in Rajasthan, where voting will take place on November 13. These elections were triggered after Congress and BAP MLAs won the Lok Sabha elections and became Members of Parliament, while in Salumbar and Ramgarh, sitting MLAs passed away, prompting the need for by-elections.

In Khinwsar (Nagaur), the contest has become a war to settle political egos and establish dominance, as mentioned earlier. Hanuman Beniwal has fielded his wife, Kanika Beniwal, and is fighting on two fronts—against both the BJP and Congress. On the last day of campaigning, cabinet minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar stoked the fire further by declaring that if Khinwsar is lost by the BJP, he would get his head shaved. His statement shocked both his supporters and opponents alike, underscoring the intensity of the battle for political supremacy in the region.

In Dausa, too, the contest is less about ideological differences and more about retaining political ground. While Congress is focused on holding onto its seat, BJP Minister Kirodilal Meena is working to regain control of Dausa by backing his brother, Jagmohan Meena, who is the BJP's candidate in this by-election.

The Chorasi assembly seat has become a matter of prestige for the BAP, which has won this seat consecutively in the last two elections. Both BJP and Congress are trying to wrest control of this stronghold of BAP.

In Jhunjhunu, the Ola family is aiming to retain the seat, while in Salumbar and Ramgarh, a sympathy wave is supporting the candidates of the MLAs who passed away.

The key takeaway here is that Rajasthan's by-elections are not being fought solely based on the performance of the BJP government or the welfare agendas of the parties, but rather on personal equations, political rivalries, and, of course, the ideologies of the competing parties.

Maharashtra : War of Legacy

However, by-elections are not a full-fledged contest, and this brings us to Maharashtra, where the political battle is shaping up to be particularly interesting. In the last assembly elections, the NCP was a united party led by Sharad Pawar, and Shiv Sena was a large family under Uddhav Thackeray. A major shift this time is that both parties have split into two factions.

Thus, the battle in Maharashtra is about legacy—who truly inherits the Shiv Sena legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray? Uddhav Thackeray and his one-time lieutenant, now political rival and current CM Eknath Shinde, are engaged in a fierce contest to claim the mantle. If Uddhav’s faction wins, it will be seen as the true heir to Balasaheb’s legacy. If Shinde prevails, the legacy will move away from Matoshri, and Shinde will emerge as the legitimate successor to his mentor, Balasaheb Thackeray.

A similar fight is unfolding within the NCP between uncle Sharad Pawar and nephew Ajit Pawar, with supporters referring to them as ‘Saheb’ and ‘Dada,’ respectively. Although Ajit Pawar has secured the party symbol (‘watch’) under certain conditions, elections are not won solely on party symbols but on mass appeal and ground-level connection. Sharad Pawar, a seasoned veteran, has a deep connection with the masses and commands respect across the state. This election has become a fight for his political survival. For other parties like the BJP, Congress, and smaller players, it’s a battle of ideologies, but for these two parties, it’s about staying relevant, preserving legacy, and ensuring they don’t lose their political ground.

Jharkhand : JMM & BJP locking horns

In Jharkhand, both the BJP and the ruling JMM are familiar with the turf. The BJP has focused its campaign on issues such as “roti-beti” (bread and daughter), while JMM is touting its government’s achievements over the last five years and defending against actions taken by central agencies against Chief Minister Hemant Soren.