Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Infra, Welfare Plans Give Mahayuti Edge, Says Survey

A recent survey conducted by Lokniti-CSDS and MIT-SOG has given the edge to the ruling Mahayuti alliance on the back of the infrastructure development and welfare schemes announced by the government.

The Maharashtra pre-poll study 2024, conducted between September 21 and October 6, indicated that key sectors such as public transport, electricity, water supply and sanitation have seen improvements, largely under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, whose imprint is clearly visible on these initiatives. This could give the ruling alliance a clear advantage at the polls.

Under Fadnavis, the Mahayuti government has positioned itself as a driver of progress, focusing on both urban and rural development. The infrastructure overhaul, combined with the successful implementation of welfare programs, is viewed as pivotal in boosting public approval for the alliance. These accomplishments appear to be resonating with voters, positioning Fadnavis as a strong contender for the Chief Minister's post should the alliance return to power.

The Mahayuti has inaugurated metro lines, the coastal road, MTHL, Samruddhi Highway in the last few months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too has visited the state multiple times in the last few months to either inaugurate or launch new projects.

The BJP-led government seems to be banking on the welfare schemes that it has implemented to gain voter support and it seems to be working, shows the survey. Leading this is the very popular Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme under which Rs1,500 per month is transferred to women from economically weaker sections. Over 2 crore women in the state have benefited from it so far. Eight in 10 respondents were aware of the scheme and seven out of every 10 respondents have benefited from it, as per the survey.

The Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Dawakhana, which is aimed at improving primary healthcare, is known to onethird of the respondents and only 30% of it benefited from it. "The survey very well establishes the fact that people are happy with the development that the Mahayuti under the leadership of Fadnavis has been focusing on," said a senior leader.

The survey underscores that these welfare initiatives have had a substantial reach, with central and state government schemes extending to remote corners of the state.

Programs focused on food security, financial inclusion, housing, and skill development have been instrumental in offering a social safety net to vulnerable populations, including Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and economically weaker sections

The survey shows that the MVA is the preferred choice of party among Muslims, ST/SCs and tribals. It indicated that within the MVA, Uddhav Thackeray is the preferred CM candidate among voters.