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Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole. (Image: PTI/File)
The grand old party is likely to announce its first list of candidates for the assembly polls on October 17
Congress’ screening panel is set to meet in Delhi later today (Wednesday) to finalise the list of candidates for the upcoming assembly polls in Maharashtra. State Congress chief Nana Patole, leader of the legislative party, Balasaheb Thorat, and Opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar will attend the meeting.
The grand old party is likely to announce its first list of candidates for the assembly polls on October 17.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has said the seat-sharing pact for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is “almost complete”.
The development comes a day after the Election Commission announced that Maharashtra will vote in a single phase on November 20 and the results will be announced on November 23, a day before the current Maharashtra assembly completes its term.
The poll bugle has been sounded for 288-strong Maharashtra assembly, where the ruling Mahayuti will see a direct fight with the MVA.
The ruling Mahayuti alliance led by the BJP has 202 members in the 288-member assembly. The BJP is the single largest party with 102 members followed by the NCP (40), Shiv Sena (38), and smaller outfits and Independents adding 22 members.
The opposition MVA coalition has 71 members in the assembly. Congress has 37 members followed by Shiv Sena-UBT (16), NCP-SP (12), SP (2), CPI(M) (1), PWPI (1). AIMIM has two members in the state assembly, where 15 seats are vacant.
Lok Sabha Poll Results
The 2024 Maharashtra Lok Sabha results showed the BJP was ahead in 83 assembly segments, down from its current strength of 103 seats. Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena led on 38 seats, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP was leading in 6 constituencies. BJP ally Rashtriya Samaj Paksha also led on 1 seat.
Overall, the Mahayuti alliance secured leads in 128 seats, significantly down from its current strength of 203.
The MVA, on the other hand, was ahead on 151 assembly seats. The Congress led on highest number of assembly seats, 63. Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena was ahead on 56 seats, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP led on 32.
