20 Key Battles to Watch in Maharashtra Assembly Elections

Maharashtra Elections 2024: With just days to go before the Maharashtra assembly elections on November 20, political tensions are rising as 4,136 candidates vie for the 288 seats in the state legislature. Among them, 2,086 are independent contenders.The split within key parties like the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) over the past two years makes the elections more significant to watch out for.The 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).The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on the other hand features the Congress (101 candidates), Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) (95 candidates), and the Sharad Pawar -led NCP faction (86 candidates).With the results set to be announced on November 23, all eyes are on the following major constituencies and candidates in the fray:1. Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) vs Praful Gudadhe (Congress) – Nagpur South West: BJP stalwart Fadnavis faces Congress' Gudadhe in a seat that has been Fadnavis’ stronghold for over two decades. Will anti-incumbency work in Gudadhe’s favor?2. Eknath Shinde (Shinde Sena) vs Kedar Dighe (Sena UBT) – Kopri-Pachpakhadi: A bitter contest in Thane between Shinde, who carries forward his mentor Anand Dighe’s legacy, and Kedar Dighe, nephew of the late Shiv Sena leader.3. Ajit Pawar (NCP Ajit Pawar) vs Yugendra Pawar (NCP Sharad Pawar) – Baramati: A family feud of epic proportions, as Ajit Pawar battles his nephew Yugendra for control of Baramati, a bastion of the Pawar family.4. Aaditya Thackeray (Sena UBT) vs Milind Deora (Shinde Sena) – Worli: Aaditya faces former Congress leader Deora in a high-profile seat that has become symbolic of the Thackeray family's political legacy.5. Nilesh Rane (BJP) vs Vaibhav Naik (Shinde Sena) – Kudal: Narayan Rane's son Nilesh looks to reclaim the 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 the death of his father, the late Baba Siddique.7. Dhiraj Deshmukh (Congress) vs Ramesh Karad (BJP) – Latur Rural: The Deshmukh brothers seek to hold onto their father’s legacy in their bastion of Latur, facing stiff competition from BJP and OBC-backed candidates.8. Amit Thackeray (MNS) vs Mahesh Sawant (Sena UBT) vs Sada Sarvankar (Shinde Sena) – Mahim: A three-way fight for a seat rich in political significance, with Raj Thackeray ’s son Amit entering the fray against veterans from both Shiv Sena factions.9. Chhagan Bhujbal (NCP Ajit Pawar) vs Manikrao Shinde (NCP Sharad Pawar) – Yeola: A crucial battle for survival within the 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 the seat.11. Nawab Malik (MVA) vs Shivaji Patil (Shinde Sena) – Mankhurd-Shivajinagar: The controversial Nawab Malik, facing charges in a money laundering case, fights to keep his seat in the face of Shinde Sena's challenge.12. Shaina NC (Shinde Sena) vs Amin Patel (Congress) – Mumbadevi: A high-profile contest in Mumbai’s Muslim-majority constituency where Shaina NC is up against veteran Congress leader Amin Patel.13. Dhananjay Munde (NCP Ajit Pawar) vs Rajesahab Deshmukh (NCP Sharad Pawar) – Parli: A tense battle of the NCP factions, with Munde looking to hold his seat against the Sharad Pawar faction’s Rajesahab Deshmukh.14. Chandrashekhar Bawankule (BJP) vs Suresh Yadavrao 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 Sharad 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 Sharad Pawar) – Bhokardan: A key fight between BJP’s Raosaheb Danve and NCP’s Chandrakant Danve, as the Maratha quota issue looms large over the contest.20. Ganesh Naik (BJP) vs Vijay Choughule (Shinde Sena) vs MK Madhavi (Sena UBT) – Airoli: A three-way contest for the Thane seat, with veteran Naik looking to assert his dominance amid internal rifts within the Mahayuti.Also Read: Mess With Anyone But Me, Says Sharad Pawar; Asks Voters to Defeat Ajit's Faction in 'Big' Way | Republic World

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20 Key Battles to Watch in Maharashtra Assembly Elections

Maharashtra Elections 2024: With the results set to be announced on November 23, all eyes are on the major constituencies and candidates in the fray.

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