Maharashtra votes for 288 seats in one phase: What is at stake? – Times of India

NEW DELHI: All 288 seats in Maharashtra will vote for assembly elections in a single phase on Wednesday. Along with Maharashtra, Jharkhand will also vote for 38 seats in the second and final phase.
In Maharashtra, it is a high-stakes battle for the two major alliances: Mahayuti led by Eknath Shinde, who is currently in power, and Maha Vikas Agadi (MVA).
Since 2019, when the last assembly was held, the state has seen two major splits with Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde splitting the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena respectively. Therefore, in these elections, there will be a major battle between Sena vs Sena and Pawar vs Pawar, with the parties fighting for the mandate and legacy of the people.

The incumbent BJP-led Mahayuti The alliance is trying to maintain their control, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition is aiming to regain power in the state. The election campaign has 4,136 candidates, including 2,086 independents. In Mahayuti, the BJP is competing in 149 constituencies, Shiv Sena in 81, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has nominated candidates for 59 seats.
On the other hand, in MVA, Congress has nominated 101 candidates, while Shiv Sena (UBT) has 95 participants and NCP (SP) is represented by 86 candidates. Meanwhile, the Bahujan Samaj Party has fielded 237 candidates while the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) is contesting in 17 constituencies of the 288-member assembly.
The two Pawars, Shinde and Thackeray, are locked in a fierce battle for political legitimacy. The outcome of the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly election, which will be announced on November 23, could potentially end the political careers of two contestants.

Sharad Pawar, who is approaching his 84th birthday, is once again trying to score a decisive victory over his cousin’s faction, which is recognized by the Election Commission as the legitimate Nationalist Congress Party. Ajit Pawar is aiming for a comeback after his setback in the Lok Sabha elections.
The Lok Sabha results were an encouragement to both Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Thackeray and Chief Minister Shinde, whose group gained recognition as the authentic Shiv Sena. The parliamentary elections are now regarded as a decisive competition.
The performance of these four regional leaders will influence the political strategies of national parties.
The rivalry between the factions is increasing with the Shiv Sena claimants contesting in over 51 constituencies while the Pawar faction candidates are pitted against each other in around 36 seats.
Party workers refer to “Mumbai ka king kaun”, highlighting the struggle for dominance over Mumbai, which was previously controlled by the unified Shiv Sena.

Western Maharashtra witnesses the most intense competition between uncle and nephew, especially in the Pawar family stronghold.
Sharad Pawar, who served four terms as chief minister, calls for defeating ‘traitors’, targeting Ajit Pawar’s group. The nephew maintains restraint in his rhetoric, aware of the public sympathy towards his uncle after the Lok Sabha results.
NCP (SP) won eight Lok Sabha seats compared to NCP, while Shiv Sena (UBT) won nine seats against Sena’s seven.
The campaign narratives ranged from the opposition’s focus on economic challenges and alleged discrimination to the ruling alliance’s emphasis on welfare programs and the Hindutva agenda.
Saturday’s results will determine both popular support for competing agendas and the political survival of Maharashtra’s top political figures.
(With input from the agency)