6 factors behind BJP's decline in Maharashtra Lok Sabha polls: From broken NCP, Shiv Sena, to angered farmers

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Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena secured seven seats, and Ajit Pawar's NCP managed only one, reducing the NDA's total to 17 out of 48 seats in the state. In 2014, the undivided Sena-BJP alliance had won 43 seats.After the poll results, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis had urged the saffron party's senior leadership to relieve him of his duties, taking 'responsibility for the loss'. Marathwada sends eight MPs to the Lok Sabha.

However, the Mahayuti alliance's dilemma with NCP (Sharad Pawar) camp's Chhagan Bhujbal advocating the OBC cause and Manoj Jarange Patil fasting for a Maratha quota row led to their downfall. On many seats, the contests were seen as Maratha vs OBC. The Mahayuti candidates had to face the ire of Maratha voters.Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction joined hands with BJP to usurp the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government, breaking the Shiv Sena into two.

BJP's Devendra Fadnavis then welcomed Ajit Pawar with a broken Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and made Pawar the other Deputy Chief Minister. In the process, Shiv Sena and NCP were divided into two pieces. Right before Mumbai went to the polls, infographics on social media went viral, attempting to educate people on the different symbols of the newly formed factions and which alliance each kept its loyalties to.

Maharashtra showed who their loyalties lie with. The BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena had taken several digs at 'tainted' leaders in the Maharashtra Congress, who were facing investigation from central agencies like the ED and CBI. However, days later, these same leaders were inducted into their parties, leaving the Congress with a cleaner image.