As the nomination period for the Maharashtra Assembly elections comes to a close, the seat-sharing arrangements within the ruling Mahayuti and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have been finalized. The elections are scheduled for November 20, 2024.
Seat Allocation in the Ruling Mahayuti
In the ruling Mahayuti coalition, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leads with the highest number of candidates, contesting 148 of the 288 assembly seats. The Shiv Sena, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has fielded 80 candidates. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has nominated 53 candidates. Additionally, five seats have been allocated to other allies within the Mahayuti coalition, while two segments remain undecided.
Seat Distribution in the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi
In the Opposition coalition, the MVA, the Congress has put forward 103 candidates, while the Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena (UBT) has nominated 89 candidates. The NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) is contesting 87 seats. Six seats are designated for other MVA allies, but clarity is lacking for three assembly segments.
Surge in Candidate Nominations
Nearly 8,000 candidates from various political parties have filed nominations for the assembly elections. According to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, 7,995 candidates submitted a total of 10,905 nominations by the deadline of October 29. The scrutiny of these nomination papers will occur on October 30, with the last date for candidates to withdraw being November 4.
In comparison, the 2019 assembly elections saw 5,543 nominations, with 3,239 candidates contesting the elections.
Prominent Candidates and Local Developments
Nashik district has seen 361 candidates file 506 nominations for the upcoming elections, with a notable number submitting their papers on the final day. Among the prominent candidates are cabinet ministers Dada Bhuse (Shiv Sena) from Malegaon Outer, Chhagan Bhujbal (NCP) from Yeola, and Suhas Kande (Shiv Sena) from Nandgaon.
In a significant local development, Chhagan Bhujbal’s nephew, Samir, resigned from the NCP and has filed his nomination as an independent candidate against sitting MLA Suhas Kande.
Election Timeline
Polling is set for November 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23, as the state prepares for a highly anticipated electoral battle.
Also Read: US Rejects Claims Of Expelling Indian Diplomats Amid India-Canada Dispute
