Maharashtra Elections: United Front and Key Candidates
Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan announced that there will be no rebel candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the Mahayuti alliance in the upcoming assembly elections. He expressed confidence that the Mahayuti alliance will secure a stronger mandate than in 2019.
Mahajan stated, “There will be no rebel candidates from BJP or Mahayuti. We will contest elections together. Mahayuti will get a bigger mandate than in 2019 and form government. Those who did not get tickets should withdraw their nominations.”
The announcement follows the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar granting a ticket to Nawab Malik, while the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) has fielded Suresh ‘Bullet’ Patil. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya opposed Malik’s nomination, calling him a terrorist and accusing him of being an agent of Dawood Ibrahim.
Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar also criticized the NCP’s decision to nominate Malik, citing serious allegations against him. In response, Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar stated that by November 4, it will be clear which candidate will contest from which seat.
The BJP is allied with NCP (Ajit Pawar) and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) under the Mahayuti alliance. The main opposition is the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), consisting of Congress, Sharad Pawar-led NCP, and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.
The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with counting on November 23. In the 2019 elections, BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena 56, and Congress 44.
Doubts Revealed
Maharashtra -: Maharashtra is a state in western India. It is known for its capital city, Mumbai, which is the financial hub of India.
Girish Mahajan -: Girish Mahajan is a politician from Maharashtra. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and serves as a minister in the Maharashtra government.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the two major political parties in India, known for its nationalist policies.
Mahayuti alliance -: The Mahayuti alliance is a coalition of political parties in Maharashtra. It includes the BJP, NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction).
NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) -: NCP stands for Nationalist Congress Party. The Ajit Pawar faction is a group within the NCP led by Ajit Pawar, who is a prominent politician in Maharashtra.
Nawab Malik -: Nawab Malik is a politician in Maharashtra. He was nominated by the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) for the upcoming elections.
Kirit Somaiya -: Kirit Somaiya is a leader of the BJP in Maharashtra. He opposed the nomination of Nawab Malik, calling him a terrorist.
Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) -: Shiv Sena is a political party in Maharashtra. The Eknath Shinde faction is a group within the party led by Eknath Shinde.
Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) -: Maha Vikas Aghadi is an alliance of political parties in Maharashtra. It includes the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress.
Assembly elections -: Assembly elections are held to elect representatives to the state legislative assembly. These elections determine who will govern the state.
