Maharashtra election 2024: The stage is about for the Maharashtra meeting election 2024, with 288 constituencies going to the polls on Wednesday, November 20. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Get together-led Mahayuti alliance is eyeing one other time period, whereas the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) mix is eager on a robust comeback. Polling will start at 7am and conclude at 6pm, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 23.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde.
The elections have seen high-octane campaigns that includes prime leaders equivalent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union house minister Amit Shah, and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Here is a breakdown of the important thing gamers and their methods:
BJP and Mahayuti: Banking on schemes and polarisation
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, together with the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, is banking on welfare schemes like ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin’ for ladies and slogans equivalent to “Batenge toh katenge” and “Ek hai toh safe hai”. Nonetheless, these slogans have sparked controversy, with Opposition accusing the BJP of making an attempt to polarise voters.
Whereas Ajit Pawar distanced himself from the slogans, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis sought to make clear their which means, resulting in combined reactions throughout the alliance.
The BJP’s newest advert marketing campaign, attacking the MVA and urging voters to “say no to Congress”, highlighted previous incidents just like the 26/11 Mumbai assaults and the Palghar lynchings.
Seats contested by Mahayuti:
BJP: 149
Shiv Sena (Shinde): 81
NCP (Ajit Pawar): 59
MVA: Give attention to social justice and inclusivity
The MVA, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction), and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), has countered the BJP’s marketing campaign by specializing in caste-based census, social justice, and constitutional values.
MVA leaders have criticised the BJP’s rhetoric, with Rahul Gandhi and Sharad Pawar main the cost towards “divisive politics”. Their marketing campaign goals to attach with voters dissatisfied with the incumbent authorities’s insurance policies.
Seats contested by MVA:
Congress: 101
Shiv Sena (UBT): 95
NCP (Sharad Pawar): 86
Smaller gamers and Independents: Numerous illustration
The Bahujan Samaj Get together (BSP) and All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) are among the many smaller events within the fray. The BSP is contesting 237 seats, whereas AIMIM is fielding 17 candidates.
A major 28 per cent rise within the variety of candidates has been noticed this 12 months, with 4,136 people contesting, together with 2,086 independents. Greater than 150 constituencies function insurgent candidates from each Mahayuti and MVA alliances.
Prime 5 contests to observe in Maharashtra meeting election
1. Worli – a three-way high-stakes battle: The Worli constituency in Mumbai is witnessing an intense three-way contest between Milind Deora (Shiv Sena – Shinde faction), Aaditya Thackeray (Shiv Sena – UBT), and Sandeep Deshpande (MNS).
Milind Deora, a former Union minister, is counting on his city middle-class attraction and in depth political expertise, together with serving in key roles in the course of the UPA-2 period.
Aaditya Thackeray, who received a landslide victory in 2019, stays a formidable contender, recognized for his proactive function in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sandeep Deshpande of the MNS, although representing a smaller voter base, has gained traction amongst Marathi-speaking voters by way of his deal with native points like infrastructure and housing.
2. Baramati – the Pawar household showdown: Baramati is about for a dramatic conflict between deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar’s grandnephew Yugendra Pawar.
Ajit Pawar, a seven-time MLA, instructions important affect, with a stronghold in Baramati since 1991. In 2019, he secured a exceptional 83 per cent vote share.
Yugendra Pawar, a political debutant backed by the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), hopes to problem this dominance with Sharad Pawar’s steering and grassroots marketing campaign expertise.
3. Vandre East – a tug of generational and political loyalties: In Vandre East, Zeeshan Siddique of Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Varun Sardesai of Shiv Sena (UBT) are in a decent contest.
Zeeshan Siddique, a younger chief recognized for his social media engagement and public outreach, has a robust reference to younger voters and the Muslim neighborhood.
Varun Sardesai, Uddhav Thackeray’s nephew, has remained a loyal Shiv Sena (UBT) supporter, drawing energy from the occasion’s conventional voter base and the Thackeray legacy.
4. Nagpur South West – Fadnavis defends his bastion: Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is vying for a fourth consecutive time period in Nagpur South West, the place his improvement initiatives and political stature are key components.
In 2019, Devendra Fadnavis received with a decisive margin of over 49,000 votes, cementing his affect.
His opponent, Praful Gudadhe of the Congress, goals to problem this dominance by addressing voter issues about city infrastructure and dissatisfaction with BJP insurance policies.
5. Kopri-Pachpakhadi – mentor’s legacy within the highlight
In Thane’s Kopri-Pachpakhadi, chief minister Eknath Shinde faces Kedar Dighe, nephew of his mentor, the late Anand Dighe.
Eknath Shinde’s deep connection to Anand Dighe’s legacy has been a cornerstone of his political profession. His financing of Dharmaveer 2, a movie highlighting Dighe’s life, underscores this bond.
Kedar Dighe hopes to leverage his household’s legacy and native assist to problem Shinde’s maintain on the constituency.
Election preparations and enforcement actions
To accommodate 9.7 crore registered voters, together with 6,101 transgender and 6.41 lakh PwD voters, 1,00,186 polling cubicles have been arrange—a 4 per cent improve from 2019. Almost six lakh authorities workers will oversee polling.
The election fee acquired 2,469 complaints of Mannequin Code violations by way of the C-Vigil app, resolving 99.31 per cent of them promptly.