Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Polling on November 20, Results to Follow on November 23
The stage is set for Maharashtra’s high-stakes assembly elections, with polling scheduled for November 20 in a single phase and results to be declared three days later, on November 23. As nominations close, the political landscape comes into sharper focus, with both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) finalizing their seat-sharing agreements.
Seat Distribution in the Mahayuti Alliance
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the dominant force in the ruling alliance, will contest the lion’s share of seats, fielding 148 candidates. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has announced 80 candidates, while Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction is contesting 53 seats. Five seats have been allocated to smaller Mahayuti allies, with decisions on two remaining constituencies still pending.
Seat Allocation in the Opposition MVA
In the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, the Congress is contesting 103 seats, emerging as the largest player within the bloc. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has fielded 89 candidates, while the NCP faction under Sharad Pawar is contesting 87 seats. Six seats have been reserved for smaller allies within the coalition, with three constituencies yet to be finalized.
Candidates and Nomination Details
The election has attracted an overwhelming number of candidates from across the political spectrum. According to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Maharashtra, nearly 8,000 candidates have entered the fray, submitting a total of 10,905 nominations. The nomination process, which began on October 22, officially concluded on October 29. Verification of nominations was carried out on October 30, with candidates allowed to withdraw their names until November 4 by 3 p.m.
What Lies Ahead
The upcoming election is expected to be fiercely contested, with both alliances vying for control of the 288-member Maharashtra assembly. While the ruling Mahayuti is banking on its governance record and grassroots alliances, the MVA is campaigning on issues of economic hardship, regional development, and alleged failures of the current administration.
As both alliances finalize their strategies and candidates hit the campaign trail, all eyes are on Maharashtra to see which political front will emerge victorious in this critical assembly election.
