Page 24 - Maharashtra Assembly Elections

Maharashtra Assembly polls: Mahayuti, MVA race to announce seat-sharing

The party led by Eknath Shinde group is expected to contest 85-90 seats, while Ajt Pawar may get 50 seats with the remaining seats will be contested by the BJP

MVA seat-sharing: Cong's Chennithala meets Uddhav, Pawar to end stalemate

A day after tensions between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress over seat-sharing for the Maharashtra assembly polls surfaced, Congress's state in-charge Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday met former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Leaders of the three Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) parties involved in the ongoing seat-sharing talks also met in the evening in a bid to break the impasse as the state is set to go to polls on November 20. While Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) are yet to declare their seat-sharing arrangement, their INDIA bloc ally and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Singh Yadav has declared candidates for five of the 12 seats he is demanding. In a message to Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the current national politics is driven by regional parties and they must get their space. The filing of nominations will begin from Sunday, but both the ruling Mahayuti coalition and Opposition MVA alliance are yet to finalise the seat ...

If Raut is controlling Uddhav, that's their issue: Maha Cong chief Patole

Speaking to the media, Patole said "If Sanjay Raut is controlling Uddhav Thackeray, that is their issue. We have the responsibility of telling the reality of our leaders and we are doing that"

If Sanjay Raut is controlling Uddhav, that's their issue: Maha Cong chief

Patole also said that Sanjay Raut was the leader of Uddhav Thackeray and Patole's leaders were Malikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi and the leader of NCP (SCP) was Sharad Pawar

Cong's Chennithala meets Uddhav amid seat-sharing issues, downplays visit

Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday amid a stalemate among Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituents over seat-sharing for the upcoming Maharastra polls. The AICC in-charge, however, downplayed the visit, saying he met Thackeray to inquire about his health. The MVA and the ruling Mahayuti are yet to declare their much-awaited seat-sharing pact. The elections to the 288-member state assembly will be held on November 20, and votes will be counted on November 23. Earlier on Friday, MPCC president Patole said there was a stalemate in the MVA over 25 to 30 assembly seats and maintained the party's state unit would abide by any decision its high command takes. Speaking to reporters after the meeting at Thackeray's residence 'Matoshree' in Bandra, Chennithala downplayed his visit, saying he had come to meet Thackeray to inquire about his health as the Sena (UBT) leader had been hospitalised a few days ago. Chennithala was accompanied by ..

Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) conclude seat-sharing talks as issues resolved: Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said the seat-sharing talks between his party and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) have concluded as these two parties are driven by a desire and mindset to resolve issues. His remark is apparently targeted at the third Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partner Congress again, a day after he expressed disappointment over the delay in the seat-sharing talks in the alliance and accused the Maharashtra Congress leaders of being incapable of making decisions. Talking to reporters, Raut said the current national politics is being driven by regional parties and his party's stand is that they must get space in their respective states. He said Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of the country with the help of regional parties like Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) (JD-U). There is a majority of regional parties in the INDIA bloc, he added. The Rajya Sabha member also said that Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav spoke to Shiv Sena

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Teachers on election duty violate 'right to education': Parents move HC

While the HC bench noted the contention of the parents that the poll process will impact the operations of the schools, it has asked the poll body to make a statement about it on Monday

Maharashtra polls: UBT Shiv Sena's Bandra (E) candidate choice upsets Cong

Maharashtra Assembly polls: Maharashtra is set to hold its Assembly elections in a single phase on November 20, with the vote counting taking place on November 23

Maharashtra elections: Shiv Sena pitches Eknath Shinde for CM post

Shiv Sena leader and MLA Dilip Lande praised Chief Minister Shinde and said, Nath ke Nath, Eknath Shinde hai

Raut disappointed with MVA seat-sharing delays, criticises Congress leaders

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday expressed disappointment over the delay in the seat-sharing talks among MVA partners and claimed that Maharashtra Congress leaders are not capable of making decisions. Talking to reporters, Raut said Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners Congress, Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) have reached a consensus on 200 of the 288 assembly seats. The Rajya Sabha member said he spoke to Congress general secretaries K C Venugopal and Mukul Wasnik and the party's Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala on Friday morning over seat-sharing. The Sena (UBT) leader said he would also speak to top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi later in the day. The pending decision should be expedited. Very little time is left. Maharashtra Congress leaders are not capable of making decisions. They have to send the list to Delhi frequently and then discussions happen. The decision will have to be taken at the earliest, Raut said. Late on Thursday evening, Maharashtra Congress president

Congress stronghold Konkan turns into a battleground for Sena vs Sena

Maharashtra's coastal belt, stretching from Mumbai to the southernmost district of Sindhudurg, was once a Congress citadel, but the party lost ground to the undivided Shiv Sena over the years. The coastal Konkan belt's economy was known to be dependent on money orders sent from Mumbai, where most of its residents migrated for work and business after Maharashtra achieved statehood in 1960. But the situation is no longer the same. The region accounts for 75 of the total 288 state assembly seats, including 36 in Mumbai, and is expected to play a key role in deciding which coalition ruling Mahayuti or opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) governs Maharashtra after the November 20 polls. Former CM and BJP Lok Sabha MP from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Narayan Rane, who hails from the picturesque region, told PTI that Konkan has now become self-sufficient, thriving on exports of fish, mangoes and cashews. "Youths are embracing entrepreneurship. Infrastructure has also expanded with enhanced air a

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Maharashtra elections: Spotlight on top CM candidates from Mahayuti, MVA

Maharashtra Assembly elections: Maharashtra is set to vote in a single phase on November 20, with the counting of votes set for November 23

Consensus in MVA on 200 out of 288 Assembly seats in state: Sharad Pawar

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the three Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies have so far arrived at a consensus on 200 assembly seats in Maharashtra out of the total 288 for the next month's elections. Speaking to reporters at Karad in Maharashtra's Satara district, he said the results of Haryana polls, where the Congress suffered a drubbing at the hands of the BJP, will not have any bearing on the elections in Maharashtra. "I am not directly involved in the seat-sharing discussions. (NCP-SP state unit chief) Jayant Patil is representing our party in the talks. As per the information he shared, an understanding has been reached on approximately 200 out of the total 288 seats," he said in response to a question. Asked about which seats in Satara district that the NCP (SP) will demand, he said a decision on seat-sharing will be taken by Patil. Elections in Maharashtra will be held on November 20, while the counting of votes will take place on November 23. The MVA, comprisin

Haryana results won't have bearing on Maharashtra polls: Sharad Pawar

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the results of Haryana polls, where the BJP retained power by defeating the Congress, will not have any bearing on the next month's Maharashtra assembly elections. He noted that the results of Jammu and Kashmir polls were significant from the country's perspective as the union territory garners more attention globally. Speaking to reporters at Karad in Satara district, Pawar also said that with the unveiling of the new Lady of Justice statue, Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud has shown a new direction as nobody else earlier thought of making the changes. Responding to a query about the INDIA bloc's strategy after the Congress's defeat in the Haryana assembly elections, Pawar said the BJP was ruling that state and it managed to retain power. "We are studying Haryana, but at the same time look at the results of Jammu and Kashmir (polls). I do not think that it (Haryana results) will have any bearing on the state's (Maharashtra's

Discussed 216 seats, agreement with SP in 2 days: Maha LoP on seat sharing

Samajwadi Party Maharashtra Chief Abu Azmi had posted on X and said that the MVA should not release the list of candidates without talking to them

Shiv Sena split, Maratha unrest: How will Maharashtra vote on November 20?

The Shiv Sena split and growing Maratha unrest over reservation demands have created an unpredictable electoral environment in the state

Maharashtra polls: Mahayuti alliance has its CM in place, says Fadnavis

Maharashtra Assembly polls: Maharashtra will conduct its voting in a single phase on November 20, with the counting of votes set for November 23

Remove GRs from govt website after enforcing poll code in Maharashtra: ECI

Various government departments in Maharashtra have removed orders published on the official website after the enforcement of the model code of conduct, following instructions from the office of the state chief electoral officer. The website saw a number of orders, or Government Resolutions (GRs), uploaded even after the model code of conduct came into effect on Tuesday following the announced of the state assembly polls schedule by the Election Commission of India. Asked about it, additional chief electoral officer Kiran Kulkarni said, "We have asked departments to remove the GRs uploaded on the government website after 3.30 pm on Tuesday. It was at this time that the chief election commissioner announced the schedule for the Maharashtra legislative assembly polls, and the model code of conduct came into effect immediately." The GRs, however, are not withdrawn (as only removed from the website) and their scrutiny will be done, the official said. "If the GRs are not violating the mo