Maharashtra Elections 2024: Raj Thackeray's Son Amit Thackeray To Contest From Mahim, Bhandup West

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is contemplating fielding Amit Thackeray, son of MNS chief Raj Thackeray, in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. The party is considering the Mahim and Bhandup West seats for him. These constituencies have been under review by the party for Amit's potential candidacy.

Currently, Sada Sarvankar from Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena represents Mahim, while Ramesh Korgaonkar from Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) holds the Bhandup West seat. If Amit contests from Mahim, Shiv Sena (UBT) might not field a candidate there. In 2019, MNS did not contest against Aaditya Thackeray in Worli.

Social Media Posts Under Scrutiny

The Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra has issued notices to social media platforms to remove 1,752 misleading posts. These posts were flagged for spreading fake news and causing voter confusion. Over 300 posts have already been deleted following the poll body's intervention.

These notices were sent under section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act. This section allows law enforcement to instruct intermediaries to remove content that could be used unlawfully. The action aims to ensure fair and transparent elections in Maharashtra.

Upcoming Elections and Social Media Compliance

Maharashtra's assembly elections are scheduled for November 20. Among the flagged posts, 143 were on Facebook, 280 on Instagram, 1,296 on X (formerly Twitter), 31 on YouTube, and two on other platforms. The authorities are working diligently to maintain election integrity.

Facebook has removed 16 posts so far, with action pending on another 127. Instagram has taken down 29 posts, X has deleted 251, and YouTube has removed five since receiving the notices. The effort continues to ensure all misleading content is addressed promptly.

MNS believes Mahim could be a secure seat for Amit Thackeray due to past support in Lok Sabha elections. In those elections, Mahayuti candidate Rahul Shewale gained a lead of about 14,000 votes in Mahim with MNS backing. This history gives MNS confidence in Amit's potential success there.

The strategic decisions by political parties and efforts by electoral authorities highlight the dynamic nature of Maharashtra's political landscape as it gears up for the upcoming elections.