The flags of the BJP and the Congress.
Credit: PTI Photos
Mumbai: The BJP and Congress are engaged in a direct face-off in a little over one-fourth of the 288 seats of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly - which is witnessing a contest between two alliances - ruling Maha Yuti and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi involving six big political parties.
The Maha Yuti (NDA) comprises of BJP, Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP while the Maha Vikas Aghadi (INDIA) includes Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar-headed NCP (SP).
If one looks at MahaYuti, the BJP is contesting 149 seats followed by Shiv Sena (ES) 81 and NCP (AP) 50.
On the other hand in Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Congress has put up 101 candidates followed by Shiv Sena (UBT) 95 and NCP (SP) 86.
The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party has fielded the largest number of 237 followed by Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi from which 200 are in the race.
Mumbai-Konkan (75)
In Mumbai-Konkan, the fight is between the two Senas - with the Shiv Sena (ES) and Shiv Sena (UBT) locking horns in 27 of the 75 places. This is followed by BJP vs Shiv Sena (UBT) in 17 places, BJP vs Congress in 14 places and BJP vs NCP (SP) in five places and NCP (AP) vs NCP (SP in five places.
Weatern Maharashtra (58)
In the Western Maharashtra, the contest involves the two NCPs - with the NCP (SP) and NCP (AP) in an eyeball-to-eyeball contest in 20 seats. On the other hand, BJP has engaged the NCP (SP) in 15 places followed by BJP vs Congress in 12 places, BJP vs Shiv Sena (UBT) in five places and Shiv Sena (ES) vs Shiv Sena (UBT) in five places.
North Maharashtra (47)
In North Maharashtra, BJP and Congress are fighting in six seats, followed by BJP vs Shiv Sena (UBT) in five places, Shiv Sena (ES) vs Shiv Sena (UBT) in five places, BJP vs NCP (SP) in four places and NCP (AP) vs NCP (SP) in three places.
Marathwada (46)
If one looks at Marathwada, the Shiv Sena (ES) vs Shiv Sena (UBT) are fighting in 11 places followed by BJP vs Congress in 10 places, BJP vs NCP (SP) in seven places, NCP (SP) vs NCP (AP) in seven places and BJP vs Shiv Sena (UBT) in three seats.
Vidharba (62 seats)
In Vidarbha, the contest is between Congress and BJP, where there is a direct face-off between the two diametrically-opposite national parties in 35 places of the total 62 seats. The BJP and NCP (SP) are fighting in nine places, BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT) in 3 places, Shiv Sena (ES) vs Shiv Sena (UBT) in five places and NCP (AP) vs NCP (SP) in six places.
Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
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