Polling in Maharashtra is set for November 20 in a single phase, with votes to be counted three days later. The main contenders for power are the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition MVA.
The picture of seat-sharing arrangements for the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections is now clear, as nominations closed on Tuesday. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting 148 assembly seats, the highest among the six major political parties. Meanwhile, Congress has nominated 103 candidates for these crucial elections.
Shinde’s Shiv Sena Nominates 80 Candidates
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has nominated 80 candidates for the November 20 elections to the 288-member state assembly. His Deputy Ajit Pawar’s NCP has fielded 53 candidates. Five seats have been allocated to other allies within the Mahayuti, while no decision has been made on two segments.
Seat-Sharing Arrangement in MVA
In the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Congress is contesting 103 seats, while the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has nominated 89 candidates, and the NCP (SP) has put forward 87 nominees. Six seats are reserved for other MVA allies, with no clarity on three assembly segments.
8,000 Candidates in the Fray
Nearly 8,000 candidates, including those from major political parties in both the ruling and opposition camps, have filed their nominations for the 288 assembly seats. A total of 7,995 candidates have submitted 10,905 nominations to the Election Commission (EC) for the November 20 polls, according to a statement from the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).
The nomination process began on October 22 and concluded on October 29. Verification and scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on October 30, with the final date for withdrawal of candidacies set for November 4 at 3 p.m.
