Mumbai, November 2: As the date to withdraw the nomination for the Assembly elections nears, the stage is set for a high-stakes showdown in Maharashtra. Nearly 8,000 candidates have filed nominations for the 288 Assembly seats, representing major political factions, including the ruling MahaYuti alliance and the opposition’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

Key players in the fray include Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and Congress leader Nana Patole. The Mahayuti alliance features the Bharatiya Janata Party, Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction), and Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Meanwhile, the MVA coalition comprises Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP-SP. Take a look at a few of the key battles to watch out for this season of Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024. Amit Thackeray vs Sada Sarvankar in Mahim, Asif Zakaria vs Ashish Shelar in Vandre West: Key Battles To Watch Out for in Mumbai During Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024.

Key Battles To Watch Out for During Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024

Shaina NC vs Amin Patel in Mumbadevi 

Shaina NC, a prominent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson, joined the Shinde Sena and was given a ticket for the Maharashtra Assembly elections. She will contest from the Mumbadevi seat in Mumbai, a stronghold of the Congress party, where she will take on incumbent MLA Amin Patel.

Sanjay Upadhyay (BJP), Sanjay Bhosale (Sena UBT), Gopal Shetty in Triangular Battle in Borivali

The BJP has fielded Sanjay Upadhyay, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) has nominated Sanjay Bhosale in Mumbai's Borivali for Maharashtra Elections 2024. Adding to the intrigue, Gopal Shetty has entered the race as an independent candidate. Shetty, a seasoned politician, is a seven-time MLA, former BMC corporator, and two-term MP from Mumbai North. Eknath Shinde Faces Mentor Anand Dighe’s Nephew Kedar in Kopri-Panchpakhadi, Yugendra Pawar To Take On Uncle Ajit in Baramati Seat; Key Battles to Watch Out for in Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024.

Family Battle of Atram's 

Four-time sitting MLA and minister Dharmarao Baba Atram will face his daughter, Bhagyashree Atram-Halgekar, in the upcoming polls. Both belong to the Gond tribe, which has a significant presence in the Gadchiroli-Chimur constituency, a region known for its Maoist activity.

Adding another layer to the contest, former BJP minister and Atram’s nephew, Ambrishrao, will also be vying for the seat as an independent candidate. This high-stakes battle within the Atram family is set to be a focal point in the elections.

Traditional Bhoir vs Basare, With Pawar and Patil for Twist

The Kalyan West constituency will witness an intense electoral battle with multiple high-profile candidates in the fray. Representing the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Vishwanath Bhoir will face off against Sachin Basare from the Sena (UBT). Adding to the competition, two independent candidates, ex-BJP MLA Narendra Pawar and BJP’s Kalyan city president Varun Patil, have also entered the race. This contest is not just a straightforward Bhoir versus Basare battle; it also highlights internal conflicts within the Mahayuti alliance, making Kalyan West a key seat to watch in the upcoming elections.

Sena vs Sena in Byculla

It is a Shinde Sena versus Uddhav Sena in Byculla seat this Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024. Yamini Jadhav has been fielded by Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, while Uddhav faction has nominated Manoj Jamsutkar. Incumbent MLA Jadhav unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections for the Mumbai South seat.

The process of filing of nominations began on October 22 and concluded on Tuesday. The verification and scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on Wednesday, October 30. The last date for withdrawal of candidatures is till 3 PM on November 4. The election is scheduled for November 20, with results to be announced on November 23.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 02, 2024 07:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).