Anti-incumbency is a natural process that leads to frequent changes in leadership in a particular assembly or constituency. In fact, anti-incumbent leaders work hard to reverse the trend to hold on to their seats. But the dynamics of Indian politics are such that their efforts often go in vain.

Maharashtra will go to polls next week and while existing MLAs pull up their sock to secure enough votes to help them stay in power, 12 leaders do not have to worry about leaving office.

The assembly elections in the third-largest state of India will be a power tussle between the two alliances – the ruling Mahayuti and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The upcoming election will be a litmus test for the BJP-led Mahayuti after a poor show in the Lok Sabha elections.

Who are the unbeatable MLAs of MH?

According to a report by Times of India, there are 12 Members of Legislative Assembly who have defied anti-incumbency with nine of them winning their respective seats for five consecutive years while three have been unbeatable seven times in a row.

At least 11 of these MLAs are ready to contest again this year.

Peasants and Workers Party of India’s leader late Ganpatrao Deshmukh tops this list as he has won from the seat of Sangola 11 times straight, making him the longest-serving MLA in Maharashtra’s history.

Other leaders who have longer terms include:

• Congress’ Balasaheb Thorat for eight terms
• NCP-SP’s Jayant Patil for seven terms
• NCP’s Dilip Walse Patil for seven terms
• NCP’s Ajit Pawar for seven terms
• BJP’s Vijaykumar Gavit for six terms
• BJP’s Girish Mahajan for six terms
• BJP’s Mangal Pratap Lodha for six terms
• BJP’s Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil six terms
• NCP’s Babanrao Shinde for six terms
• Congress’ Ranjit Kamble for five terms
• NCP-SP’s Shamrao Pandurang Patil for five terms
• NCP’s Hasan Mushrif for five terms

Is anti-incumbency going to play a role in polls?

Yes, ant-incumbency is one of the key challenges that the candidates face in a state that is already marred with rampant defections.

However, the BJP, which is part of the Mahayuti alliance, is confident that its candidates won’t face anti-incumbency.

“There’s no anti-incumbency as far as the BJP is concerned. The party and the central government have done a fantastic job in Maharashtra under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said BJP candidate Ameet Satam.