Maharashtra heads to the polls today in a crucial assembly election across 288 constituencies, with the ruling Mahayuti coalition--comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction--facing off against the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar-led NCP.
Key issues for voters range from unemployment and inflation to agricultural distress and demands for caste-based reservations, while the campaign has seen fervent appeals from top leaders across both NDA and INDIA alliances. Security has been intensified following incidents like the attack on NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh, amid allegations of electoral malpractices, including vote-buying.
Prominent candidates include BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis in Nagpur South West, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Kopri-Pachpakhadi, Aaditya Thackeray in Worli, NCP’s Ajit Pawar in Baramati, Milind Deora in Worli, Zeeshan Siddique in Bandra East, and Amit Thackeray (MNS) in Mahim.
