Maharashtra is set to hold its assembly elections in a single-phase vote on Wednesday, November 20, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance aiming to retain power, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition hopes for a strong comeback.
The state, India’s second-largest in terms of Lok Sabha representation and third-largest in terms of Vidhan Sabha strength, will determine the outcome of 288 assembly seats.
Notably, the Mahayuti alliance includes the BJP, Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP, while the MVA brings together the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction).
The BJP's use of slogans like "Batenge toh katenge" and "Ek hai toh safe hai" prompted the opposition parties to accuse the Mahayuti of polarising voters along religious lines.
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Maharashtra Election: When Will Polling Begin?
Polling will begin in all the 288 assembly seats at 7 am and end at 6 pm, an election official said. The votes will be counted on November 23.
The election campaign saw prominent leaders like Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and many Union ministers crisscrossing the state to garner votes for their candidates.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's use of "Batenge toh katenge" and PM Modi's "Ek hai toh safe hai" slogans.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attempted to clarify the meaning of the slogans, leading to confusion within the ruling alliance, as per PTI.
Ahead of the elections, the BJP on Monday launched a new ad campaign attacking the opposition MVA and urging people to "Say No to Congress."
The ad campaign highlighted various incidents from the past, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, and incidents like the lynching of sadhus at Palghar.
Maharashtra Election: Constituencies, Candidates
The BJP is contesting the November 20 elections in 149 seats, Shiv Sena is in the fray in 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.
The Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) has put up 86 candidates.
Here's a look at the key candidates:
| Candidates | Party | Constituency |
| Eknath Shinde | Shiv Sena (Shinde) | Kopri-Pachpakhadi |
| Nana Patole | Congress | Sakoli |
| Devendra Fadnavis | BJP | Nagpur South West |
| Aaditya Thackeray | Shiv Sena (UBT) | Worli |
| Milind Deora | Shiv Sena (Shinde) | Worli |
| Zeeshan Siddique | NCP (AP) | Bandra East |
| Nawab Malik | NCP (AP) | Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar |
| Ajit Pawar | NCP (AP) | Baramati |
| Rohit Patil | NCP (SP) | Tasgaon |
Smaller parties, including the Bahujan Samaj Party and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), are also contesting, with BSP fielding 237 candidates and AIMIM 17 in the 288-member Lower House.