Maharashtra Assembly Elections: Intense Rivalry Heats Up Between Mahayuti and MVA Coalitions

Mumbai, 31st October 2024: With assembly election nominations completed, Maharashtra is gearing up for a fierce contest between the Mahayuti coalition (comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party, Nationalist Congress Party Ajit Pawar faction, and Shinde Sena) and the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance (which includes Sena UBT, Congress, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP).

A total of nearly 8,000 candidates, representing major parties from both the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition MVA, submitted their nominations for the 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra by the end of the process on Tuesday.

The ruling BJP is contesting 148 assembly seats, the largest number among the significant parties in both camps, followed by Congress with 103 seats. The Shiv Sena, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has put forth candidates for 80 seats, while Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s NCP has nominated candidates for 53 seats, notably excluding Malegaon Central and Shivadi.

Within the MVA, the Congress is running in 103 seats, followed by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) with 89, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) with 87 seats. Additionally, six seats have been allocated to other MVA allies.

Nominations began on October 22 and concluded on Tuesday. Verification and scrutiny of nomination papers are scheduled for Wednesday, with the last day for candidates to withdraw their nominations set for November 4 (by 3 pm). Votes will be counted on November 23.

Here’s a glimpse at some notable contests in Maharashtra:

Aheri
Candidates: Dharmarao Baba Atram (NCP Ajit Pawar) vs. Bhagyashree Atram (NCP Sharad Pawar) vs. Ambrishrao Atram (Independent)
Incumbent: Dharmarao Baba Atram (NCP Ajit Pawar)
Details: This assembly seat, part of the Maoist-affected Gadchiroli-Chimur region, has a significant Gond tribe population. Four-time MLA and minister Dharmarao Baba Atram will face his daughter Bhagyashree, who is backed by NCP (SP), while his nephew Ambrishrao is contesting as an independent.

Baramati
Candidates: Ajit Pawar (NCP Ajit Pawar) vs. Yugendra Pawar (NCP Sharad Pawar)
Incumbent: Ajit Pawar (united NCP)
Details: This traditional stronghold for the Pawar family in the Pune district will see Ajit Pawar challenge his nephew Yugendra, who is backed by Sharad Pawar.

Mankhurd-Shivajinagar
Candidates: Shivaji Patil (Shinde Sena) vs. Nawab Malik (NCP Ajit Pawar) vs. Abu Azmi (Samajwadi Party)
Incumbent: Abu Azmi (SP)
Details: This predominantly Muslim constituency is home to the Deonar dumping ground. Nawab Malik, facing legal challenges related to a money laundering case, is running against Shinde Sena’s Shivaji Patil.

Worli
Candidates: Milind Deora (Shinde Sena) vs. Aaditya Thackeray (Sena UBT)
Incumbent: Aaditya Thackeray (Sena UBT)
Details: A prestigious seat for Uddhav Thackeray, this constituency is expected to be highly contested as Thackeray emphasizes initiatives launched under his father’s leadership.

Mahim
Candidates: Mahesh Sawant (Sena UBT) vs. Sada Sarvankar (Shinde Sena) vs. Amit Thackeray (MNS)
Incumbent: Sada Sarvankar (Shiv Sena – Eknath Shinde)
Details: This assembly seat, part of the Mumbai South Central Lok Sabha constituency, will see a fierce three-way contest featuring the candidates of different factions.

Mumbadevi
Candidates: Shaina NC (Shinde Sena) vs. Amin Patel (Congress)
Incumbent: Amin Patel (Congress)
Details: With Congress holding this seat since 2009, the nomination of BJP leader Shaina NC from Shinde Sena adds an unexpected twist to this contest.

Sewri
Candidates: Ajay Choudhari (Sena UBT) vs. Bala Nandgaonkar (MNS)
Incumbent: Ajay Choudhari (Shiv Sena)
Details: The absence of a Mahayuti candidate could favour Nandgaonkar, a popular figure from the MNS, in this traditional Sena stronghold.

Borivali
Candidates: Sanjay Upadhyay (BJP) vs. Sanjay Bhosale (Sena UBT) vs. Gopal Shetty (Independent)
Incumbent: Sunil Rane (BJP)
Details: This long-time BJP stronghold now faces competition from former BMC corporator Gopal Shetty, who is running as an independent.

Airoli
Candidates: Ganesh Naik (BJP) vs. Vijay Choughule (Shinde Sena) vs. MK Madhavi (Sena UBT)
Incumbent: Ganesh Naik (BJP)
Details: This assembly seat, part of the Thane Lok Sabha constituency, features a potentially divisive contest due to internal conflicts within Mahayuti.

Kalyan West
Candidates: Vishwanath Bhoir (Shinde Sena) vs. Sachin Basare (Sena UBT) vs. Narendra Pawar (Independent) vs. Varun Patil (Independent)
Incumbent: Vishwanath Bhoir (Shiv Sena – Eknath Shinde)
Details: This seat, viewed as a Sena bastion, is witnessing an unusual influx of independent candidates.

Byculla
Candidates: Yamini Jadhav (Shinde Sena) vs. Manoj Jamsutkar (Sena UBT) vs. Madhukar Chavan (Independent)
Incumbent: Yamini Jadhav (Shiv Sena – Eknath Shinde)
Details: In this Muslim-majority constituency, former Congress MLA Madhukar Chavan has entered the race as an independent.

Belapur
Candidates: Manda Vijay Mhatre (BJP) vs. Sandeep Naik (NCP Sharad Pawar)
Incumbent: Manda Mhatre (BJP)
Details: A BJP stronghold, the contest between Mhatre and Naik is expected to be closely contested.

Bandra East
Candidates: Zeeshan Siddique (NCP Ajit Pawar) vs. Varun Sardesai (Sena UBT) vs. Trupti Sawant (MNS)
Incumbent: Zeeshan Siddique (Congress)
Details: This constituency includes the business district of Bandra-Kurla Complex and has a diverse demographic, adding complexity to the battle.

As the elections approach, these contests are shaping up to be pivotal moments in Maharashtra’s political landscape.