The much-anticipated 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections have finally concluded, and the results are starting to trickle in. One of the most closely watched races was in the Aurangabad East constituency, where AIMIM's Imtiaz Jaleel was hoping to continue his party's strong showing in the region.
However, it was not to be. BJP's Atul Save emerged victorious, defeating Jaleel by a margin of 1,777 votes. This comes as a major setback for AIMIM, which had been hoping to build on its success in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Jaleel, who had served as an MLA from Aurangabad East since 2014, was considered a strong candidate. He had the backing of the AIMIM, which has a significant support base in the constituency. However, Save, a former mayor of Aurangabad, was able to sway voters with his promises of development and his close association with the ruling BJP.
The result is a major upset for AIMIM, which has been seen as a rising force in Maharashtra politics. The party had hoped to make significant gains in the assembly elections and establish itself as a major player in the state. However, the defeat of Jaleel is a blow to those ambitions.
For BJP, the victory is a welcome boost. The party had been facing a tough challenge from the Maha Vikas Aghadi, an alliance of the Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress. The victory of Save will help BJP to consolidate its position in the state and give it a strong base in Aurangabad.
The election result is a reminder that anything can happen in politics. Jaleel was considered the favorite going into the election, but Save was able to pull off an upset. This is a lesson that all politicians should keep in mind, especially in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.