Mumbai: The ruling BJP is contesting 148 assembly seats in Maharashtra, the highest among major political parties in both ruling and opposition camps, followed by the Congress, which is contesting 103 seats.
Nearly 8,000 candidates, including those from major political parties in the ruling Mahayuti as well as the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), filed nominations for the 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra as the process concluded on Tuesday. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has fielded candidates in 80 seats, while Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s NCP has nominated 53 candidates for the November 20 polls. Five seats were allocated to other Mahayuti allies, with decisions pending on two segments.
Within the MVA, the Congress is contesting 103 seats, followed by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) with 89 seats, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) with 87 seats. Six seats were allotted to other MVA allies, while decisions on three assembly segments remain unclear. A total of 7,995 candidates submitted 10,905 nominations with the Election Commission (EC) for the polls, according to a statement from the office of the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Tuesday.
The filing of nominations began on October 22 and ended on Tuesday. Verification and scrutiny of nomination papers will occur on Wednesday, with the final date for withdrawal of candidacies set for November 4 (until 3 p.m.).
In 2019, the EC received 5,543 nominations across the state, with 3,239 candidates ultimately contesting the assembly polls. This year, Nashik district alone saw 361 candidates file 506 nominations for the November 20 assembly elections, with 255 candidates submitting papers on the final day.
Prominent candidates include Cabinet Ministers Dada Bhuse (Shiv Sena) from Malegaon Outer, Chhagan Bhujbal (NCP) from Yeola, Suhas Kande (Shiv Sena) from Nandgaon, Rahul Dhikle (BJP) from Nashik East, former MLA Vasant Gite (Shiv Sena-UBT) from Nashik Central, and current MLA Saroj Ahire (NCP) from Deolali. State food and civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal’s nephew, Samir Bhujbal, resigned from the NCP and filed his nomination as an independent candidate against sitting MLA Suhas Kande (Shiv Sena) from Nandgaon.
Polling will occur on November 20, with votes to be counted on November 23.
