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 powerful comeback. Polling started at 7am and can conclude at 6pm, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 23.
The elections have seen high-octane campaigns that includes prime leaders resembling Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union dwelling 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 girls and slogans resembling “Batenge toh katenge” and “Ek hai toh secure hai”. Nevertheless, these slogans have sparked controversy, with Opposition accusing the BJP of trying to polarise voters.
Additionally Learn | Maharashtra election 2024 schedule: Voting time, exit polls and outcomes date
Whereas Ajit Pawar distanced himself from the slogans, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis sought to make clear their that means, resulting in combined reactions inside 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: Deal with 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 in opposition to “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: Various 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 big 28 per cent rise within the variety of candidates has been noticed this yr, with 4,136 people contesting, together with 2,086 independents. Greater than 150 constituencies characteristic 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 enchantment 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, identified for his proactive position 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 means of his give attention to 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 vital affect, with a stronghold in Baramati since 1991. In 2019, he secured a outstanding 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 steerage 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 identified for his social media engagement and public outreach, has a powerful reference to younger voters and the Muslim group.
Varun Sardesai, Uddhav Thackeray’s nephew, has remained a loyal Shiv Sena (UBT) supporter, drawing energy from the celebration’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 growth initiatives and political stature are key elements.
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 help 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 enhance from 2019. Practically six lakh authorities workers will oversee polling.
For the reason that Mannequin Code of Conduct got here into impact on October 15, enforcement companies have seized money, liquor, and different gadgets price ₹252.42 crore, together with ₹83.12 crore in valuable metals and ₹32.67 crore in medicine, information company PTI reported.
The election fee obtained 2,469 complaints of Mannequin Code violations through the C-Vigil app, resolving 99.31 per cent of them promptly.
