Mumbai: After a vicious campaign trail lasting over 30 days, the stage is finally set for the Maharashtra Assembly elections amid tight security, on Monday.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena alliance is making a determined bid to recapture power for a second consecutive term, and the opposition Congress-Nationalist Congress Party combine is leaving no stone unturned to return to power after remaining in the political wilderness for five years.
With a staggering 3,237 candidates in the fray from among a host of different parties, the contests for the 288 seats promises to be an all-out political war,
Here’s a look at what’s in store for the elections.
Q: Why are Maharashtra assembly polls important this time?
A: Maharashtra assembly polls 2019 have put many things at stake. All political parties contesting election this time have to face unique challenges. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has the arduous task of repeating its performance of 2014, when it won a record 122 seats. For Shiv Sena, party chief Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aaditya Thackeray is in the fray. This is the first time that someone from Thackeray family is contesting an election.
The Congress, on the other hand, is facing leadership crisis in the state with many of its sitting Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) having already switched sides. The grand old party is marred with deep intra-party divisions in Maharashtra. Key party leader Rahul Gandhi has already stepped down taking responsibility for the debacle in 2019 general election.
Likewise, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) failed to convert its vote share into seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) elections. Also party president Sharad Pawar is facing heat from Enforcement Directorate over charges of corruption. He is distressed by the fact that several of his party leaders have switched sides and joined BJP.
Q: How many candidates are contesting election this time?
A: As many as 3,239 candidates are in the fray for the state assembly election for a total of 288 seats.
Q: Who are the primary players in the fray?
A: The primary players are BJP, Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP.
Q: Which constituency has the most and least number of candidates in the fray?
A: Chiplun constituency has the least candidates, 3, whereas Nanded South constituency has maximum of 38 candidates.
Q: What is the pre-election alliance scenario for Maharashtra state polls?
A: Before polls, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was formed with ruling BJP and Shiv Sena. Pre-election alliance of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was formed with Congress and NCP. The grand old party filed nominations on 145 seats and NCP on 123.
Several political parties have not joined hands with either of the two alliances. This includes All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) which will be contesting from 44 seats, mostly from Muslim predominant constituencies. ‘Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’ has fielded candidates for all 288 seats while
‘Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’ will be contesting from 103 seats.
Q: Who are the prominent candidates in the poll arena?
A: Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis, contesting from his home turf Nagpur South-West, is the face of BJP who is also leading the party campaign. State BJP chief Chandrakant Patil is contesting from Kothrud. Senior party leaders Sudhir Mungantiwar and Pankaja Munde are also in the fray from Ballarpur and Parli seats, respectively.
From Shiv Sena, Aaditya Thackeray is making his political debut in electoral politics, contesting from Worli seat.
From Opposition Congress, veteran party leaders Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan are contesting from Bhokar and Karad South constituencies, respectively. Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar is seeking another term from his home turf Baramati.
Q: What are the main issues/challenges before the parties contesting this time?
A: Severe drought, agrarian distress and demand for reservation from various quarters are some of the main issues that dominate the poll scenario in Maharashtra. Another challenge before all political parties is the increasing rate of unemployment in the state. The issue of suicide by farmers has also become very serious. Besides, relief and rehabilitation of those affected by abnormally high rainfall this time is another challenge.
Q: When was the previous election held? What was the outcome?
A: The previous legislative assembly election was held in October, 2014. After the election, BJP and Shiv Sena formed a majority government, with saffron party’s Devendra Fadnavis becoming CM.
Q: What was the party position in 2014 Maharashtra state assembly election?
A: In 2014, BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 122 seats while Shiv Sena won 63 seats. Congress-NCP alliance, on the other hand, won 83 seats (Congress 42, NCP 41).
