20 Key Battles to Watch in Maharashtra Assembly Elections

Maharashtra Elections 2024: With just days to go before Maharashtra assembly elections on November 20, political tensions are rising as 4,136 candidates vie for 288 seats in state legislature. Among m, 2,086 are independent contenders.

split within key parties like Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) over past two years makes elections more significant to watch out for.

ruling Mahayuti ( BJP -led alliance) has fielded 149 candidates, with key players like Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ’s Shiv Sena (81 candidates) and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar ’s NCP faction (59 candidates).

opposition Maha Vikas Aghi (MVA) on or hand features Congress (101 candidates), Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) (95 candidates), and Shar Pawar -led NCP faction (86 candidates).

With results set to be announced on November 23, all eyes are on following major constituencies and candidates in fray:

1. Devendra Fnavis (BJP) vs Praful Gudhe (Congress) – Nagpur South West: BJP stalwart Fnavis faces Congress' Gudhe in a seat that has been Fnavis’ stronghold for over two deces. Will anti-incumbency work in Gudhe’s favor?

2. Eknath Shinde (Shinde Sena) vs Kedar Dighe (Sena UBT) – Kopri-Pachpakhi: A bitter contest in Thane between Shinde, who carries forward his mentor Anand Dighe’s legacy, and Kedar Dighe, nephew of late Shiv Sena leer.

3. Ajit Pawar (NCP Ajit Pawar) vs Yugendra Pawar (NCP Shar Pawar) – Baramati: A family feud of epic proportions, as Ajit Pawar battles his nephew Yugendra for control of Baramati, a bastion of Pawar family.

4. Aitya Thackeray (Sena UBT) vs Milind Deora (Shinde Sena) – Worli: Aitya faces former Congress leer Deora in a high-profile seat that has become symbolic of Thackeray family's political legacy.

5. Nilesh Rane (BJP) vs Vaibhav Naik (Shinde Sena) – Kudal: Narayan Rane's son Nilesh looks to reclaim family seat in a fierce contest against Shiv Sena’s Vaibhav Naik.

6. Zeeshan Siddique (NCP Ajit Pawar) vs Varun Sardesai (Sena UBT) – Bandra East: A high-profile Mumbai constituency where Zeeshan Siddique is contesting with sympathy after death of his far, late Baba Siddique.

7. Dhiraj Deshmukh (Congress) vs Ramesh Kar (BJP) – Latur Rural: Deshmukh brors seek to hold onto ir far’s legacy in ir bastion of Latur, facing stiff competition from BJP and OBC-backed candidates.

8. Amit Thackeray (MNS) vs Mahesh Sawant (Sena UBT) vs Sa Sarvankar (Shinde Sena) – Mahim: A three-way fight for a seat rich in political significance, with Raj Thackeray ’s son Amit entering fray against veterans from both Shiv Sena factions.

9. Chhagan Bhujbal (NCP Ajit Pawar) vs Manikrao Shinde (NCP Shar Pawar) – Yeola: A crucial battle for survival within NCP as Bhujbal faces his former mentor’s faction in a high-stakes contest for Maratha votes.

10. Ashish Shelar (BJP) vs Asif Zakaria (Congress) – Bandra West: BJP’s Ashish Shelar, a three-time MLA, faces Congress’ Zakaria, relying on Muslim community support to retain seat.

11. Nawab Malik (MVA) vs Shivaji Patil (Shinde Sena) – Mankhurd-Shivajinagar: controversial Nawab Malik, facing charges in a money laundering case, fights to keep his seat in face of Shinde Sena's challenge.

12. Shaina NC (Shinde Sena) vs Amin Patel (Congress) – Mumbevi: A high-profile contest in Mumbai’s Muslim-majority constituency where Shaina NC is up against veteran Congress leer Amin Patel.

13. Dhananjay Munde (NCP Ajit Pawar) vs Rajesahab Deshmukh (NCP Shar Pawar) – Parli: A tense battle of NCP factions, with Munde looking to hold his seat against Shar Pawar faction’s Rajesahab Deshmukh.

14. Chandrashekhar Bawankule (BJP) vs Suresh Yavrao Bhoyar (Congress) – Kamthi: BJP’s state president Bawankule seeks to defend his seat in Vidarbha, facing a challenge from Congress’ Bhoyar amid rising anti-incumbency sentiment.

15. Sudhir Mungantiwar (BJP) vs Santoshsingh Chandansingh Rawat (Congress) – Ballarpur: Mungantiwar, a BJP veteran, faces competition from Congress’ Rawat in a region crucial for BJP’s foothold in Vidarbha.

16. Chandrakant Patil (BJP) vs Chandrakant Mokate (Sena UBT) – Kothrud: A triangular fight between BJP’s Patil, Sena UBT’s Mokate, and MNS’s Shinde, with former Sena MLA Mokate eyeing a comeback.

17. Girish Mahajan (BJP) vs Dilip Khodpe (NCP Shar Pawar) – Jamner: BJP’s six-time MLA Mahajan faces a tough contest from Khodpe, a former aide, in a key constituency for BJP in North Maharashtra.

18. Mangal Prabhat Lodha (BJP) vs Bherulal Choudhary (Sena UBT) – Malabar Hill: A prestigious battle for Mumbai’s upscale Malabar Hill, where BJP’s Lodha and Sena UBT’s Choudhary face off for a coveted seat.

19. Raosaheb Danve (BJP) vs Chandrakant Danve (NCP Shar Pawar) – Bhokardan: A key fight between BJP’s Raosaheb Danve and NCP’s Chandrakant Danve, as Maratha quota issue looms large over contest.

20. Ganesh Naik (BJP) vs Vijay Choughule (Shinde Sena) vs MK Mhavi (Sena UBT) – Airoli: A three-way contest for Thane seat, with veteran Naik looking to assert his dominance amid internal rifts within Mahayuti.


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