Cong, NCP to hold 5 joint rallies in Maharashtra

Of the 48 seats in Maharashtra, the Congress is contesting 26 and NCP 22.

It is an acid test for Munde, who hails from the politically important Vanjari community, to retain Beed constituency  as he has been cornered by NCP and Congress and also by anti Munde forces. Munde had won for the first time in 2009 elections from Beed.

On the other hand, NCP, which has succeeded in luring Munde's elder brother and nephew in addition to a couple of disgruntled BJP leaders and members into the party fold, is leaving no ston unturned  to win Beed seat. Dhas, who deserted Munde before 2009 assembly elections, comes from the Maratha community and has been instrumental in challenging Munde's stronghold there.

Further, the Congress and NCP will also hold rallies in Nagpur, Nashik, Pune and Mumbai. Nagpur has been Congress’s bastion, where the party MP Vilas Muttemwar had won for a record seven times whie lost ones to BJP nominee Banwarilal Purohit.  However, Congress faces a huge challenge from BJP former president Nitin Gadkari and Aam Aadmi Party leader Anjali Damania to retain its supremacy in Nagpur which happens to be the headquarters of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.