As Maharashtra gears up for the upcoming Assembly elections, national leaders take a backseat as state leaders become the focal point of the political landscape. With marquee leaders like Eknath Shinde of Shiv Sena and Devendra Fadnavis of BJP fighting for their own dominance, the role of regional leaders becomes crucial. Amidst this, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar faces the heat while Uddhav Thackeray struggles to establish himself as the real Shiv Sena leader. The Congress also adopts a localised strategy, leaving the NCP camp to rely on the master strategist, Sharad Pawar. With multiple factors at play, the Maharashtra elections have become a highly contested battle with each of the 288 constituencies being influenced by distinct issues.
Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has filed his nomination papers for the upcoming state assembly election from the Nagpur South-West seat. In a show of support, Fadnavis was joined by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and held a road show in Nagpur ahead of filing his nomination. Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis expressed his gratitude to top party leaders, including Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, for showing trust in him. He also stated that their main aim is to continue the development that has been achieved under the current government.
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis filed his nomination today from the Nagpur South West constituency, with a strong show of support from senior party leaders. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, BJP Maharashtra President Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and other leaders were present to back Fadnavis. His rally, which witnessed a traditional aarti performed by his wife, also received blessings from his mother and Naga sadhus from Uttarakhand. With thousands of supporters and family support, Fadnavis expressed confidence in securing his sixth victory in the upcoming elections.
Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has filed his nomination from Nagpur South West constituency for the upcoming Assembly polls. This will be the fifth time Fadnavis is contesting from this constituency. With the BJP facing a tough competition in the region, Fadnavis is banking on his track record of development-oriented politics to secure a victory. However, Congress's Praful Gudadhe is also expected to give a tough fight in the elections, as the BJP suffered a decline in votes in this constituency during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Despite this, Fadnavis remains confident, while Congress sees this as an opportunity to make a comeback in the region. In the last Assembly elections, Fadnavis had defeated Gudadhe in a multi-cornered contest.
The political landscape in Maharashtra is filled with controversy as posters giving credit to Chief Minister Ekanth Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the encounter killing of a suspect in a child sexual assault case have surfaced in various parts of the state. While BJP has denied any involvement in the posters, the Shiv Sena, who is in power with BJP in the state, has openly celebrated and taken credit for the encounter. As the battle for credit and power continues, the local municipality has removed the posters of Fadnavis, causing backlash and calls for an inquiry from BJP members.
Maharashtra's Chief Electoral Officer, S Chockalingam, has announced that any leaders found guilty of using communal voting language, such as BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis' "vote-jihad" statement, will be dealt with within the legal framework. The state has seen an increase of over 69 lakh voters since the last assembly election, with over 4.9 crore male and 4.6 crore female voters. The number of polling stations has also increased to over 1 lakh for the upcoming elections. The state's electoral office is also ensuring that the government does not release any resolutions that violate the model code of conduct.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has revealed its first list of 99 candidates for the #MaharashtraElection2024, with Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis set to contest from Nagpur South West, and state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule from Kamthi. Other notable nominees include minister Girish Mahajan running from Jamner, and minister Sudhir Mungantiwar from Ballarpur. This move sets the stage for a fierce competition as the party prepares to defend its hold in the state.
A misleading video, falsely attributed to Maharashtra, has been circulating on social media, with claims attacking the state's Deputy Chief Minister. The 1.09 minute video, posted by a Shiv Sena leader, shows vehicles driving over a massive pothole, alongside a billboard featuring the politician responsible for the state's road maintenance. However, a fact check revealed that the footage is actually from China and not related to Maharashtra at all.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assures that the 'Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana' will not be discontinued, but rather the benefits will be gradually increased. This statement was made during the inaugural ceremony of various state-level schemes for women empowerment, in the presence of Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. Shinde emphasizes the importance of this scheme in empowering women and improving their lives, with over 2.5 crore beneficiaries already receiving benefits. He also mentions the state government's decision to provide free electricity for agricultural pumps as a means to support farmers. This scheme has garnered praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, making Maharashtra a role model for women's empowerment in the country.
In a bold move, Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal and three legislators, belonging to the Ajit Pawar faction of NCP, jumped off the third floor of the state secretariat building in Mumbai to oppose the demand for the Dhangar community's inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category. Fortunately, they landed safely on a net installed in the building to prevent suicide attempts. Officials confirmed that none of them sustained any injuries. The incident was a part of a larger protest by tribal MLAs in the Mantralaya complex during a cabinet meeting, where Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis were present.