Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 5 (HBTV): A total of 4,426 nomination papers from 3,259 candidates have been filed for the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, covering 288 constituencies, according to a release from Maharashtra’s Chief Election Officer. The assembly polls are scheduled for November 20, with vote counting set for November 23.

The last date for filing nominations was October 29, followed by scrutiny on October 30, and the deadline for withdrawal of applications was November 4.

In a significant development, Congress candidate Madhurima Raje Malojiraje Bhosale withdrew her nomination for the Kolhapur North constituency on Monday, a major setback for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). This unexpected move follows the Congress’s initial choice of Rajesh Latkat, who was replaced by Madhurima, daughter-in-law of Kolhapur Congress MP Shahu Maharaj, at the last moment. Latkat, now running as an independent, refused to withdraw, leading Shahu Maharaj to request Madhurima to pull out. The primary contest now centers on Latkat, a Congress rebel, and Rajesh Kshirsagar of Shiv Sena, representing the Mahayuti alliance.

The Kolhapur North seat holds particular importance. In 2014, Shiv Sena’s Rajesh Vinayakrao Kshirsagar won the seat, while Congress’s Chandrakant Pandit Jadhav secured it in 2019. Following Jadhav's death, his wife, Jayashree Jadhav, won a bye-election but later joined Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction after being denied a Congress ticket. With Madhurima’s withdrawal, the race has become highly competitive, with Latkat and Kshirsagar emerging as key contenders.

NCP leader Nana Kate also withdrew his candidacy as an independent from the Chinchwad constituency on Monday.

The election notification was issued on October 22, and the Model Code of Conduct was implemented statewide on October 15. From October 15 to 29, the Chief Electoral Officer's office received 1,648 complaints of code violations via the C-Vigil app, with 1,646 of them resolved. The C-Vigil app allows citizens to report violations directly.

Both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition MVA are making significant efforts in preparation for the polls. Mahayuti comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), while MVA consists of the Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction).

These elections mark a departure from previous ones due to major realignments within key regional parties. The Shiv Sena and NCP have split into rival factions, with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction now opposing its former ally, the BJP.

In the 2019 elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena 56, and Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42. The upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections will take place on November 20, with results expected on November 23.   

(ANI)