Maharashtra Polling Date and Time: The Maharashtra Assembly Elections will be held on November 20, where the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is trying its best to hold onto power, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition is hoping for a strong comeback. The voting will begin from 7 am to 6 pm across all 288 constituencies, and the results will be announced on November 23.
Key Parties and Campaigns
As seen during the intense campaigning phase, prominent leaders like PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi have been traveling across Maharashtra to rally support for their parties. The Mahayuti alliance includes the BJP, Shiv Sena (led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde), and NCP (under Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar). The alliance is focusing on its popular schemes, such as the “Majhi Ladki Bahin” program for women, to maintain its stronghold.
However, the BJP’s controversial slogans, including “Batenge toh katenge” and “Ek hai toh safe hai,” have drawn criticism from the opposition, which accuses the Mahayuti of dividing voters along religious lines. Some allies, including Ajit Pawar, distanced themselves from these slogans, while Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis tried to clarify their meaning, causing confusion within the ruling camp.
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Opposition’s Response and Key Issues
The MVA alliance, which includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (led by Sharad Pawar), has focussed its campaign on issues such as caste-based census, social justice, and the protection of the Constitution. The opposition on the other hand has tried to attract voters who feel left behind by the government. The BJP countered this with an ad campaign urging people to “Say No to Congress,” where they have referred to incidents like the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the Palghar lynching.
This year, 4,136 candidates are contesting, which is a 28% increase from the 3,239 candidates in 2019. Among them, 2,086 are independents, and over 150 rebel candidates are competing against their own party’s official nominees.
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