Maharashtra Election 2024: Five Key Constituencies to Watch in the High-Stakes Assembly Polls
Maharashtra, India’s wealthiest state, is gearing up for a significant electoral battle on November 19, with voters set to elect a 288-member Assembly. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress are locked in a fierce contest to secure the largest share of seats, while allies such as Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), Shiv Sena (UBT), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and NCP (SP) work to solidify their positions.
National leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Congress figures Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, have campaigned extensively across the state to gather support for their respective parties.
Out of the 288 seats, 234 are general, 29 are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), and 25 for Scheduled Tribes (ST). According to the state’s Chief Electoral Office, 4,140 candidates are contesting, with 2,938 withdrawals from the original 7,078 valid nominations.
Top Five Key Races to Watch
Worli This high-profile Mumbai constituency sees a three-way race between Milind Deora (Shiv Sena – Shinde faction), Aaditya Thackeray (Shiv Sena – UBT), and Sandeep Deshpande (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena).
- Milind Deora, a former MP from South Mumbai, draws on his appeal among urban middle-class voters and past ministerial experience during the UPA government.
- Aaditya Thackeray, who achieved a decisive win in 2019, is recognized for his active role during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Sandeep Deshpande, though with a smaller party, focuses on local concerns like infrastructure and housing, particularly appealing to Marathi-speaking voters.
Baramati In this NCP stronghold, Yugendra Pawar, Sharad Pawar’s grandnephew (NCP – SP), is challenging Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.
Yugendra, mentored by Sharad Pawar, is making his political debut and looks to leverage the Pawar family’s legacy.
- Ajit Pawar, a seven-time winner with a commanding 83% vote share in the 2019 election, remains a powerful figure in the constituency.
Vandre East A fierce battle unfolds between Zeeshan Siddique (Congress) and Varun Sardesai (Shiv Sena – UBT).
- Zeeshan Siddique, popular with young voters and the Muslim community, has built a reputation for addressing local issues and using social media effectively.
- Varun Sardesai, nephew of Uddhav Thackeray, has strong support from Shiv Sena’s traditional voter base and aims to retain the constituency.
Nagpur South West Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) is seeking a fourth consecutive term against Praful Gudadhe (Congress).
- Fadnavis, known for his development initiatives and organizational prowess, won by over 49,000 votes in 2019.
- Gudadhe seeks to capitalize on anti-incumbency sentiment and dissatisfaction with infrastructure and economic policies.
Kopri-Pachpakhadi Chief Minister Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena – Shinde faction) faces a challenge from Kedar Dighe (Shiv Sena – UBT), nephew of the late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe.
- Shinde, closely associated with Anand Dighe, often emphasizes his mentor’s legacy, including funding the Marathi biographical film Dharmaveer 2.
- Dighe, leveraging his family’s political lineage, presents himself as a fresh alternative.
The Bigger Picture
Maharashtra’s political landscape is intricate, with competing factions within Shiv Sena and NCP. The BJP and its allies are aiming to regain momentum after setbacks in the recent Lok Sabha elections, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi seeks to consolidate its gains and mount a strong challenge.
