The stage is set for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the campaign of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) officially ends on Monday, as mandated by the Election Commission of India (ECI). In recent weeks, top national and regional party leaders have traveled across the state rallying for votes.

As the model code of conduct has been implemented in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and other by-poll states, the Election Commission has taken strict action against violations. Enforcement agencies have seized over 1,000 crore rupees in cash, liquor, drugs and other freebies meant to influence voters. Maharashtra accounted for a significant portion, with illegal incentives worth over Rs 660 crore seized during the enforcement process.

Parties Contesting Maharashtra Elections

The political landscape in Maharashtra has transformed dramatically since the last assembly elections. Back then, the BJP and its long-time ally Shiv Sena contested against the Congress and Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). However, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance unraveled over disagreements over the post of chief minister, paving the way for the unexpected Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition of the Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena.

Although many analysts doubted the MVA’s stability, few foresaw an eventual downfall: a major split within the Shiv Sena. In mid-2022, Eknath Shinde led a rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray, forcing Thackeray to resign as Chief Minister of Maharashtra just before a test. Shinde later aligned himself with the BJP and assumed the role of chief minister in the NDA-led government. The Election Commission later recognized Shinde’s faction as the legitimate Shiv Sena.

In 2023, the NCP faced a similar turmoil when Ajit Pawar staged a rebellion against the party’s founder and uncle, Sharad Pawar. Ajit Pawar’s group was declared the official NCP by the Election Commission, leaving Sharad Pawar’s faction to adopt a new name and symbol. BJP’s Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis are now deputy ministers under Shinde in the Mahayuti government.

For this election, the Congress, Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) have come together to take on the Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP .

Seat sharing dynamics

In the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting 149 seats. Its allies Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) are fielding candidates for 81 and 59 seats respectively.

On the opposition side, the Congress is contesting 101 constituencies, while its allies Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar’s faction) have candidates in 95 and 86 seats respectively.

In addition, Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is contesting 17 seats in the 288-member assembly.

The number of candidates in the Maharashtra assembly elections has increased by 28% compared to the last polls, driven by more political parties and a rise in rebel candidates. According to PTI, more than 150 constituencies have rebels from the Mahayuti and MVA alliances pitted against their party’s official nominees.

3,239 candidates participated in the 2019 elections. This time, the number increased to 4,136, reflecting the growing competition in the state.

Voters are counting

The number of voters in Maharashtra rose to 96,369,410, up from 89,446,211 in 2019, thanks to special registration drives targeting youth and first-time voters, an election official said.

The state now has 2,093,206 first-time voters between the ages of 18 and 19. In addition, 1,243,192 voters are over 85, including 47,716 centenarians.

For the upcoming elections, the number of polling booths also increased to 100,186, compared to 96,654 in 2019.

Election date and time

The 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra will go to polls for elections on November 20, 2024. Voting will begin at 7 am and end at 6 pm.

When to watch exit polls?

Exit poll predictions will be announced soon after voting closes on November 20. As per the recommendations of the Election Commission of India, the exit poll predictions can be released after 6.30 pm on the same day.

When is maharashtra election result?

The votes will be counted on November 23.