Last updated:Nov 18, 2024 5:37 PM IST
With the political landscape more fragmented than ever before, these Assembly elections will be the biggest test of the splits in two major regional parties – Shiv Sena and NCP – in the past two years.
Both Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi have promised new industrial projects and filled vacancies in the state government to create employment. (Image: PTI/file)
Top leaders of Maharashtra’s six major parties ended the high-stakes campaign for the assembly elections on Monday. The highlight of the day: the Pawar versus Pawar poll meeting in Baramati, the most anticipated battle when the state votes on November 20.
With the political landscape more fragmented than ever before, these elections will be the biggest test of the splits in two major regional parties – Shiv Sena and NCP – in the past two years.
On the last day of the campaign, Prime Minister Eknath Shinde addressed four rallies in and around Thane, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar addressed five rallies including Baramati, and Sharad Pawar addressed Baramati and three other rallies. The other deputy CM, Devendra Fadnavis, addressed rallies in his constituency Nagpur Southwest.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN ISSUES?
WHAT IS THE PARTY-WISE SITUATION?
The main parties in the fray are the BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena as part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, and the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) as constituents of the MVA.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN MATCHES?
A total of 4,136 candidates are in the fray for the assembly elections to the 288-seat Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
READ ALSO | Top candidates for Maharashtra elections 2024: Thackerays vs Pawars, the 20 big fights
In the ruling Mahayuti, the BJP has fielded 149 candidates, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena 81 candidates, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP 59. In the MVA, the Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT). ) 95 and NCP (SP) 86.
Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) against Praful Vinodrao Gudadhe (Congress) in Nagpur South West: Fadnavis became the youngest mayor of Nagpur in 1997 and has won from this constituency in assembly elections for five terms continuously since 1999. They now want to see him as the CM or the BJP chief. He will take on Congress’ Praful Gudadhe, who hopes the anti-incumbency will help him win.
Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) against Kedar Dighe (Sena UBT) in Kopri-Pachpakhadi: Shinde is pitted against his mentor, late Anand Dighe’s cousin Kedar Dighe, and is confident of retaining his stronghold in Thane. He was first elected as MLA from Thane in 2004 and after the Kopri-Pachpakhadi assembly seat was appointed, he won three consecutive terms in 2009, 2014 and 2019.
Ajit Pawar (NCP) vs Yugendra Pawar (NCP Sharad Pawar) in Baramati: After the Supriya Sule versus Sunetra Pawar in the Lok Sabha elections, Baramati will witness another Pawar family fight. Ajit Pawar, the loyal face of Baramati and deputy CM, will be pitted against his cousin Yugendra Pawar, son of his younger brother Shrinivas aka Bapu, who has the support of Pawar senior. While Ajit Pawar is confident of retaining the bastion, Sule is backing Yugendra to ensure another win for Pawar senior.
Aaditya Thackeray (Sena UBT) against Milind Deora (Shiv Sena) in Worli: In 2019, Aaditya Thackeray became the first from his family to venture into electoral politics by contesting from the Mumbai seat. While the victory against NCP-backed Suresh Mane was easy then, this time he will take on Milind Deora of the Shinde Sena. While Aaditya is confident, Deora, former Congress leader and Union minister, is being called a ‘sacrificial lamb’ of sorts. MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande is also involved in the fray.
Zeeshan Siddique (NCP) vs Varun Sardesai (Sena UBT) in Bandra East: Uddhav Thackeray’s nephew Sardesai is pitted against Zeeshan Siddique, who is riding a wave of sympathy after the murder of his father and NCP leader Baba Siddique. Throughout his campaign in the Muslim-dominated seat, he has sought justice for his father. The seat, which houses the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), is especially important for the Thackerays as it houses Matoshree. The MNS has fielded former Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Trupti Sawant, while Shinde Sena’s Kunal Sarmalkar is contesting as an independent.
Election news Maharashtra Poll campaign ends, phase set for Mahayuti vs MVA on November 20