Maharashtra Polls: Here are 10 biggest battles to watch out for

Since Monday morning, voting is underway in 288 Assembly constituencies of Maharashtra. The BJP is contesting the election with the Shiv Sena (SS) as its alliance partner under the leadership of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. On the other hand, Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have formed an alliance as well. The Assembly election results will be declared on October 24.

Read: Maharashtra Polls: MNS Chief Raj Thackeray Casts Vote At Shivaji Park

Here are 10 biggest battles to watch out for: 

Worli: Aaditya Thackeray (SS) vs Suresh Mane (NCP) 

2014 witnessed an engrossing battle with a strong incumbent Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Sachin Ahir getting trounced by the SS candidate Sunil Shinde. The latter got nearly 23,000 more votes than Ahir. Recently, Ahir joined the SS. According to the Republic- Jan Ki Baat Opinion poll, Aaditya Thackeray is expected to win the election comfortably. Suresh Mane is his principal opponent. 

Byculla: Waris Pathan (AIMIM) vs Yamini Jadhav (SS) 

AIMIM tasted its first success in Maharashtra with the surprise win of Waris Pathan from the Byculla constituency in 2014. However, his victory margin was very narrow. Currently, he is in the poll fray against Yamini Jadhav of the SS. As per the opinion poll, the SS candidate seems to have the upper hand. 

Read: Maharashtra Opinion Poll: BJP Projected For Single-majority On Its Own

Shirdi: Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil (BJP) vs Suresh Thorat (Congress) 

The former Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil has won all elections from Shirdi since 1995. Now contesting on a BJP ticket, he is expected to have a smooth ride in this election, facing off against Congress’ Suresh Thorat. In the 2014 election, his victory margin was more than 60,000 votes. 

Nagpur South West: Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) vs Ashish Deshmukh (Congress) 

Congress has fielded former BJP MLA Ashish Deshmukh in a surprise move to contest the polls against Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. This constituency has been won by Fadnavis since 2009. He retained the seat in 2014 by securing 1,13,918 votes. The Opinion poll suggests that the CM will face no real challenge. 

Parli: Pankaja Munde (BJP) vs Dhananjay Munde (NCP) 

Parli is poised to be a contest between the estranged Munde cousins. While Minister Pankaja Munde won the election in 2014, NCP’s Dhananjay Munde was not too far behind. She also defeated a Congress candidate in the 2009 Assembly election. BJP is projected to retain this seat. 

Shirpur: Kashiram Pawara (BJP) vs Ranjeet Pawar (Congress) 

History is set to be created as the Congress is predicted to lose after nearly three decades in Shirpur. Interestingly, Kashiram Pawara who previously won a Congress ticket is now fighting the polls from the BJP fold. However, the latter has been increasing its vote share in every election since 2004. Ranjeet Pawar is the Congress candidate in this seat. 

Kankavli: Nitesh Rane (BJP) vs Satish Sawant (SS) 

After joining BJP, this will be the first test for former Congress MLA Nitesh Rane. Owing to the traditional rivalry between SS and his father Narayan Rane, the former is contesting the Kankavli poll despite being in an alliance with the BJP. In 2014, Rane won by over 25,000 votes against a BJP candidate. This time, it is projected that Rane is marginally ahead of Satish Sawant of the SS. 

Read: Maharashtra: Congress' Nana Patole Projected To Lose Sakoli Election

Bhokar: Ashok Chavan (Congress) vs Bapusaheb Gorthekar (BJP) 

Former CM Ashok Chavan is facing a stern test in the Bhokar Assembly constituency after losing the Lok Sabha polls from Nanded. His wife Ameeta Chavan won the seat against BJP receiving more than 1 lakh votes in 2014. The Republic- Jan Ki Baat Opinion poll indicates that Chavan has a slight edge over BJP’s Bapusaheb Gorthekar. 

Sakoli: Nana Patole (Congress) vs Parinay Fuke (BJP) 

Congress leader Nana Patole was originally an elected member of the Lok Sabha from BJP in 2014. However, he joined the Congress ranks ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and contested unsuccessfully against Nitin Gadkari. He is projected to lose even in the Assembly elections against BJP’s Parinay Fuke. Fuke is a close confidant of Fadnavis. 

Kothrud: Chandrakant Patil (BJP) vs Kishor Shinde (MNS) 

The choice of Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil as the party’s choice in Kothrud created considerable buzz. The supporters of incumbent legislator Medha Kulkarni were reportedly upset as Patil is an outsider, hailing from Kolhapur. Nevertheless, Kothrud is a stronghold of BJP. This, in turn, can give him a decisive advantage against MNS’ Kishor Shinde, who is being backed by Congress and NCP.  

Read: Haryana Opinion Poll: BJP Projected To Win Big, Congress Struggles