Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Key Candidates And High Profile Contests Between MVA And Mahayuti

The Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 promise an intense contest with 4,136 candidates competing for 288 seats on November 20. Notably, 2,086 of these candidates are independents. The political scene has shifted significantly due to divisions within the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP over the last two years.

The Mahayuti is spearheaded by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), fielding 149 candidates. Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena follows with 81 candidates, while Ajit Pawar's NCP presents 59 contenders. In contrast, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi features Congress with 101 candidates, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) with 95, and Sharadchandra Pawar's NCP with 86.

Key Contests in Maharashtra

Among the notable battles is Devendra Fadnavis of BJP against Praful Vinodrao Gudadhe from Congress in Nagpur South West. Eknath Shinde faces Kedar Dighe in Kopri-Pachpakhadi. In Baramati, Ajit Pawar of NCP (Ajit Pawar) competes with Yugendra Pawar from NCP (Sharad Pawar). In Worli, Aaditya Thackeray of Sena UBT challenges Milind Deora of Shinde Sena. Zeeshan Siddique will take on Varun Sardesai in Bandra East. Vilasrao Deshmukh's son Amit will try to continues his father's legacy in Latur who will be taking on Shivraj Patil's daughter-in-law Archana.In Yevla, Chhagan Bhujbal from NCP Ajit Pawar faces Manikrao Shinde of NCP Sharad Pawar. The Mahim constituency fight will be special as son of MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Amit Thackeray will be contesting the polls vs Mahesh Sawant if Shiv Sena UBT and Sada Sarvankar from Shiv Sena Shinde Sena.Other prominent figures include Ashish Shelar (BJP) in Bandra West and Nawab Malik against Abu Azmi in Mankhurd-Shivajinagar.

Shaina NC of Shinde Sena competes against Amin Patel in Mumbadevi. Dhananjay Munde of NCP Ajit Pawar is running in Parli. Veteran leaders like Chandrashekhar Bawankule (BJP) in Kamthi, Sudhir Mungantiwar (BJP) in Ballarpur, and Mangal Prabhat Lodha (BJP) in Malabar Hill face challengers from various parties.

Anticipated Election Outcomes

The election results on November 23 are eagerly awaited as they will reveal the effects of recent political shifts and the power dynamics among major alliances and influential families within Maharashtra's political sphere.