PM Modi and Amit Shah to hit poll campaign trail in Maharashtra

BJP anunced on Sunday that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will dress nine and 18 public meetings respectively in Maharashtra in run-up to upcoming assembly elections. It is first major round of elections since 2019 Lok Sabha elections. According to Chandrakant Patil, BJP state unit president, two of PM’s meetings would take place in Pune and Satara on October 17. He also revealed that western Maharashtra would witness a majority of Shah’s rallies. Patil furr ded that y h asked all candidates from Pune district to attend public meetings of Home Minister and PM Modi. 

He said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modiji will dress nine public meetings, two of m are scheduled to take place in Pune and Satara on October 17." Patil ded, "We have asked alliance candidates and ir party workers from 11 constituencies in Pune district to attend public meetings of Modi and Shah.” 

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‘Mahayuti’ alliance 

Unlike 2014, when BJP and Shiv Sena (SS) contested elections separately, both parties finally mand to form an alliance this time. While former will contest on 150 seats, SS is in fray in only 124 constituencies. remaining 14 seats will be distributed among or allies like Republican Party of India (Athawale), Shiv Sangram Party, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, and Rayat Kranti Sanghatna. However, alliance talks took considerable time owing to SS’s insistence on fighting an equal number of seats as BJP.  

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In end, ir demand for post of Deputy CM has also t been officially conceded by BJP. This has probably been influenced by BJP’s performance in previous Assembly election when y won 122 seats as against 63 won by SS. Similarly, BJP and SS won in 23 and 17 Lok Sabha constituencies respectively in 2019 General elections. At same time, decision to field Aitya Thackeray from Worli has increased possibility of SS bargaining hard for important ministries in post-election scenario. On or hand, NCP and Congress are also fighting elections as an alliance.

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Maharashtra Assembly elections 

Election Commission of India recently anunced state Assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra, along with by-polls in several or States. total strength of Maharashtra Assembly is 288, out of which nine seats are reserved for SC and five for ST category. In total, Maharashtra has 8.94 crore registered voters, out of which 1.16 lakh are service voters. 1.8 lakh ballot units, 1.28 lakh control units, and 1.39 lakh VVPATs to be used in state. While voting will take place on October 21, results will be declared on October 24. 

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(With PTI inputs)