FINALLY settling the churning that began in Maharashtra after the Assembly elections of 2019, Saturday’s results could mark the end of careers of some of the state’s most prominent faces while cementing the future of others.

Here is a look at the six with the most at stake:

In the twilight of his illustrious political career, Sharad Pawar has suffered one of his most significant defeats. As the driving force behind the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) – comprising the Congress, NCP (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT) – Pawar took on the responsibility of key political decisions for the alliance, including seat-sharing arrangements.

However, the failure to accurately gauge the political climate and make effective candidate selections, combined with missteps in campaign strategy, has ended in a major setback for the veteran leader who has proved naysayers wrong several times earlier.

At 83, Pawar has often asserted that there’s still fight left in him, but the overwhelming dominance of the BJP, alongside the rise of his nephew Ajit Pawar, is set to put under strain the patriarch’s hold of the remaining NCP with him.

Fadnavis has emerged as a central figure in the BJP’s win, with his leadership seen as instrumental in the party’s historic triumph in Maharashtra. If the BJP high command concurs, this success could fulfil Fadnavis’s 2019 electoral pledge, “Mi punha yein (I shall return)”, signalling his return to the Chief Minister’s office.

From personally selecting candidates to skillfully managing rebel factions that threatened the BJP’s chances, Fadnavis has solidified his position as the most dominant figure within the Mahayuti. This victory is poised to elevate his profile within the BJP, positioning him as a leader capable of navigating both state and national politics with equal effectiveness.

Despite sustained attacks from Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, Fadnavis remained steadfast, setting the tone for the BJP’s campaign strategy. His invocation of the “vote jihad” narrative and call for a “dharma yudh (religious war)” to counter it appears to have worked, overshadowing the Maratha community’s reservations demands.

As a result, Fadnavis is now widely seen as the rightful claimant to the position of Maharashtra CM.

Shinde has supplemented his position as the true successor to Bal Thackeray’s Shiv Sena legacy, following his party’s impressive showing. He has managed to secure the victory of most of the MLAs who sided with him during the 2022 rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray.

While the results also give Shinde valuable leverage in Maharashtra’s political landscape, the BJP’s dominant performance casts doubts on whether he can continue as CM. Whether he would be willing to work under Fadnavis or any other leader nominated by the BJP after relinquishing the CM’s post remains to be seen.

Ajit Pawar’s political career had hit a low following the poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections of the NCP led by him, including his wife Sunetra Pawar’s loss in Baramati. However, a successful media makeover and a strong showing in these Assembly elections have revitalised his prospects, allowing him to step out from under the towering shadow of his uncle, Sharad Pawar.

Ajit successfully navigated the rifts within the NCP, emerging victorious in most electoral battles against his uncle’s faction. Unlike Shinde, the current Deputy CM has no immediate ambitions as regards the CM’s role, making him and his party more flexible and open to aligning with the BJP’s demands.

Having lost most of the party’s MLAs and MPs, plus its symbol, to the Shinde Sena, Thackeray’s leadership has taken another blow with the Assembly results. Senior leader Sanjay Raut’s claims about potential EVM manipulation only ended up making the party sound like a sore loser.

The going will get tougher as the wellspring of sympathy for Thackeray over the Sena split dries up. The poll loss also puts a question mark over his claims to the legacy of his father Bal Thackeray.

Thackeray’s most pressing challenge now would be to keep the Sena (UBT) united, with many of his MLAs showing little incentive to remain loyal. His failure to connect with voters and inspire the same fervour as his father poses a serious obstacle for his future, especially as he grapples with health concerns. Additionally, the ongoing tensions between his party and the Congress raise questions about the durability of the MVA alliance within the INDIA coalition.

There are also some who feel that given the dominance of the BJP, Thackeray will come under mounting pressure from his own legislators to reach reconciliation with its former ally BJP.

Patole, known for his brusque manner, stands apart from many of his Congress counterparts in Maharashtra. A party-hopper who has switched from the Congress to the BJP and back again, Patole has been leading the state unit since 2021. His aggressive approach brought some much-needed dynamism to the party, which had often been seen as stagnant.

However, his combative style and frequent clashes with MVA allies, particularly with the Sena (UBT), contributed to a growing negative perception of the alliance, which became evident in the results of the Assembly elections.

Now as the knives sharpen against him, there will be pressure on Patole, who led the Congress to its poorest electoral performance in the state and who himself lost by 658 votes, to step down from his post.