Mumbai: As the state assembly election campaign picks up momentum the political parties in Maharashtra carry a charged look. The political parties are eager to cement their coalitions as they gear for the electoral contest. Since the deadline for withdrawing nominations was at 3 PM on Monday, 4 th November, the participants have been finalised. There can be no more withdrawal and 4,140 persons are in the contest for 288 seats in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
In its own records, the Election Commission says that 7,078 candidates deposited valid nominations for this election. However, 2,938 candidates opted out of the race, and 4,140 others will compete for their seat in the state assembly on 20 th of November while the voters will determine the result on 23 rd of November.
Many of the region’s constituencies are bipolar with the loose freshman plurality vis a vis facing three opponents, making many of the constituencies three-horse races that are key election theatres this year. Here are some of the key seats to watch:
Mahim Seat: A cut throat competition can be witnessed here as Sada Sarvankar is contesting from Eknath Shinde faction, Amit Thackeray from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Mahesh Sawant from Shiv Sena (UBT).
Anushakti Nagar: In this constituency Sana Malik of the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), Fahad Ahmed from the NCP Sharad Pawar faction, and Avinash Rane of the Shiv Sena will be in direct confrontation.
Mankhurd Shivajinagar: This is one of the most fiercely contested seats in Maharashtra and voters here will be facing a tri-factorial contest between the Samajwadi Party’s Abu Azmi, the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction)’s Nawab Malik, and the Shiv Sena’s Suresh Patil.
As the date of polling 20th November gets closer, there is no stone that the political parties have left unturned to capture these vital seats. The 20th November, therefore, socialise the voting results of the candidates in EVMs to locking the candidate fates and the result declaration day will be on 23rd November. As it is, the slender voter writ dominates the stakes in the major fields like Mahim, Anushakti Nagar, and Mankhurd Shivajinagar where the triangular fights have added the extra edge.
A political activity has been topping its peak, conventions, vigorous campaign processes, parties’ competitive and tactful negotiations, all these in an attempt to get a bigger portion from the political arena of Maharashtra. Since the withdrawal deadline has been marked, the scene is now set for a bumper electoral fight.