Maharashtra Gears Up For Assembly Elections As Political Rivals Prepare For Battle

As Maharashtra approaches its Assembly elections, both the ruling MahaYuti coalition and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi have declared their readiness for the electoral showdown. The MahaYuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, plans to leverage a range of welfare and development schemes to secure their hold on power. In contrast, the Maha Vikas Aghadi aims to capitalize on anti-incumbency sentiments among voters, framing the contest as a battle for prestige.

Media Briefing Ahead of ECI Announcement

Before the Election Commission of India (ECI) holds its press conference, MahaYuti leaders—including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar—will address the media at 2:30 pm.

The ECI’s announcement comes just a day before the BJP’s Central Election Commission meeting on Wednesday, where they will discuss their candidate list. Insiders suggest that the first list will include around 60 candidates and will be released by Thursday. The BJP has staked a claim to 160 of the 288 seats, while the remaining 128 will be contested by the Shiv Sena and NCP.

Seat Distribution and Candidate Selection

The Maha Vikas Aghadi is also strategizing its seat distribution. Congress is expected to secure over 100 seats, while Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena may receive 80 to 90 seats, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) could obtain 70 to 80 seats.

Also Read: Congress MLA Hiraman Khoskar Joins Ajit Pawar’s NCP Ahead Of Maharashtra Assembly Polls

Leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi, including Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, announced on Sunday that they are in discussions regarding seat-sharing and plan to release their candidate list this week.

Election Machinery Prepared for Peaceful Polling

The state’s election machinery is fully prepared to conduct peaceful and incident-free polling across 288 Assembly constituencies. With an updated electorate of 9.59 crore voters—comprising 4.95 crore males and 4.64 crore females—the number of voters has risen from 9.12 crore during the 2024 general elections.

There will be 1,00,186 polling stations across the state, with 42,585 in urban areas and 57,601 in rural regions. Nearly 4,00,744 personnel will manage the polling process.

Polling Station Highlights

The Dharavi Assembly constituency is the smallest, covering just one square kilometer, while Aheri in Gadchiroli district is the largest, spanning 22,827 square kilometers. In terms of the electorate, Wadala in Mumbai has the fewest voters at 2,04,066, whereas Chinchwad in Pune has the highest with 6,43,769 voters.

Border Security and Vigilance Measures

To maintain election integrity, 322 check posts will be established along the state’s borders—185 by police, 54 by the forest department, 51 by the excise department, 23 by the transport department, and 9 by customs.

These posts will facilitate close monitoring, especially along borders with Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Goa. State and central agencies will collaborate to share intelligence, conduct 24/7 CCTV surveillance, and prevent the influx of illegal cash, liquor, and drugs.

Increasing Voter Turnout

To combat urban apathy and boost voter turnout, the Chief Electoral Officer plans to enhance awareness campaigns. During the 2024 general elections, several constituencies, including areas in Thane and Mumbai, recorded less than 50% voter turnout. To encourage participation among laborers, the ECI has declared a paid holiday on voting day.

Additionally, polling stations will provide essential facilities such as water and shaded areas, with special accommodations for the elderly, women, and people with disabilities. Urban polling stations will also feature 100% webcasting to ensure transparency during the voting process.