Candidate filing for the Maharashtra assembly election concluded on the last date making it the final day of announcement. Georgians have now returned their focus to key political players and coalitions because today’s nominations will show who the contenders are. This has added interest to the Maharashtra election race in terms of the presence of several politicians and new contestants appear in the race.
CM Eknath Shinde’s Roadshow and Nomination
Later in the day, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde joined the electoral fray by submitting his nomination for the Kopri-Pachpakadi seat. Shinde is the three-term MLA from this seat and is the leader of one of the three factions namely Mahayuti in the election. Ahead of filing his nomination, Shinde took an impressive rally on the streets of Thane, which was joined by thousands of people.
It was witnessed by his arrival on a chariot prepared for him – printed with photos of dead Pankaja kin and leader Bal Thackeray, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Interior Minister Amit Shah, and political master Anand Dighe. The roadshow was participated by some BJP and NCP leaders from the faction of Ajit Pawar further showing the togetherness of Mahayuti.
However, he has tough competition from Kedar Dighe a candidate of Uddhav Thackeray’s faction who is challenging Shinde for supremacy in the constituency. The contest in Kopri-Pachpakadi has turned into a bitter election race, as has the political divide of the Shiv Sena.
Ajit Pawar’s Baramati Battle: A Family Feud
Ajit Pawar who is also the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra also submitted his nomination for the Baramati assembly seat which is a family bastion of the Pawar clan. The sentiments attached to the campaign of Ajit Pawar hold a lot of water considering the family influence in the region. But the given contest in Baramati has changed dramatically with the entry of a new candidate in the person of Yugendra Pawar, the son of Ajit Pawar’s son.
This has thrown a spanner in the works and controversy has emerged between members of the Pawar family again. Ajit Pawar tried to humiliate Sharad Pawar, former Chief Minister and NCP leader, for trying to bring division in the family by supporting Yugendra’s candidature.
The Baramati Lok State seat has always been a stronghold for the Pawar family. Lok Sabha elections are fought in the constituency by Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar who defeated Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar. The family factor coupled with the political significance of the Baramati constituency has certainly warmed up the battle making it one of the most keenly observed in the state assembly polls.
Maha Vikas Aghadi and Mahayuti Alliances: Candidate Announcements
The MVA alliance and the Mahayuti alliance nuts also hurried to complete their candidates on the last Thursday of the nominations. Both alliances have declared most of their candidates but they have had problems with selecting candidates for some seats. The MVA, the ruling coalition in Maharashtra which is comprised of the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray, the Indian National Congress, and the Nationalist Congress Party led by Sharad Pawar, has declared the list of 259 candidates. On the other hand, the Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena (Camp Shinde), and NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar has declared 253 candidates so far.
Despite efforts to coordinate, both alliances experienced challenges in agreeing on final candidate lists. The process remained contentious until the final moments of the nomination period, highlighting the complexities of coalition politics in Maharashtra. The inability to reach a smooth agreement reflects underlying tensions within the alliances, which could influence the election outcomes.
Key Constituencies to Watch
The Kopri-Pachpakadi constituency, represented by CM Shinde, and Baramati, the traditional stronghold of the Pawar family, are emerging as critical battlegrounds in the upcoming elections. The contest between Shinde and Kedar Dighe symbolizes the ongoing factionalism within the Shiv Sena, while the family drama in Baramati adds an emotional element to an already intense political race.
Both seats are expected to set the tone for the broader election narrative, with other significant battles unfolding across Maharashtra. Several high-profile candidates and celebrities have also entered the fray, further elevating the stakes for all parties involved.
Conclusion
The Maharashtra assembly elections have come at a crucial juncture with the end part of the nomination process. Since the final lists of parties’ candidates are getting clearer, the battle between MVA and Mahayuti will be aggressive in the days to come. These two coalitions seek to gain an advantage, yet outstanding discrepancies in candidate choice may influence voter opinions.
Given conflicts within families and political parties, cartels, and political alliances being major determinants of political events, the elections are expected to be intense. That is why the results of the vote in the key constituencies, Kopri-Pachpakadi and Baramati in particular, will unveil the new political configuration in the state of Maharashtra and define the directions of its developmental future.
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