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Maharashtra Election 2024: Aaditya Thackeray vs Milind Deora to Ajit vs Yugendra Pawar, a look at the big leaders in the November 20 fight
The split in parties has thrown up some interesting fights in Maharashtra assembly elections. (File)
A total of 4,136 candidates are in the fray for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections for 288 seats, with 2,086 independent contenders. The results will be out on November 23.
This time, however, the political landscape is more fragmented with the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party splitting up in the past two years.
Of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded 149 candidates, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has fielded 81 candidates, and deputy CM Ajit Pawar-led NCP has fielded 59.
In the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray has 95 candidates in the fray and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) has 86 candidates.
As the political noise goes silent ahead of Maharashtra voting on November 20, a look at the Maharashtra election 2024 key candidates and constituencies:
1. Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) vs Praful Vinodrao Gudadhe (Congress) in Nagpur South West: Nagpur is from where Fadnavis became the youngest mayor in 1997 and then has won continuously from here in assembly elections for five terms since 1999. They now want to see him as the CM or BJP chief. The BJP strongman will take on Praful Gudadhe of the Congress. Gudadhe or Gudadhe-Patil is hoping the anti-incumbency will help him win.
2. Eknath Shinde (Shinde Sena) vs Kedar Dighe (Sena UBT) in Kopri-Pachpakhadi: Pitting against mentor the late Anand Dighe’s nephew Kedar, Shinde is confident of retaining his bastion of Kopri-Pachpakhadi in Thane. Shinde was first elected as an MLA from Thane in 2004. After the Kopri-Pachpakhadi assembly seat was made, he won three consecutive terms in 2009, 2014 and 2019. While Shinde says he is carrying forward Dighe’s legacy, the name of Kedar, Thane district chief of the UBT, may resonate with voters in the region.
3. Ajit Pawar (NCP Ajit Pawar) vs Yugendra Pawar (NCP Sharad Pawar) in Baramati: After the party split into the Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar factions, the Lok Sabha polls saw a fight of Pawars, which Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule won against Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar. Now, Ajit Pawar, the loyal face of Baramati and deputy CM, will take on his nephew Yugendra, son of his younger brother Shrinivas aka Bapu, who has the support of Pawar senior. While Ajit Pawar remains confident of retaining the bastion, Sule is throwing her weight behind Yugendra to ensure another win for Pawar senior.
4. Aaditya Thackeray (Sena UBT) vs Milind Deora (Shinde Sena) in Worli: In 2019, Aaditya Thackeray became the first from his family to venture into electoral politics by contesting from the seat in Mumbai. While the win then against NCP-supported Suresh Mane was easy, this time he faces Shinde Sena’s Milind Deora. While Thackeray is confident of the initiatives that began under his father Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership, including the BDD chawl redevelopment and the Worli-Sewri project, Deora is being called a “sacrificial lamb”. Deora, a former Congress leader and union minister of state, joined the Sena before the Lok Sabha polls this year and was subsequently elected to the Rajya Sabha. Also in the fray is Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s Sandeep Deshpande.
5. The Ranes in Kankavali, Kudal vs Sena UBT: In 2005, then leader of opposition and former CM Narayan Rane quit the Shiv Sena and joined the Congress after a long tussle with Uddhav Thackeray. In 2014, Rane was defeated in his constituency of Kudal by Vaibhav Naik of the Shiv Sena. Now, Rane, who has joined the BJP, has been elected to the Lok Sabha from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, defeating two-term MP Vinayak Raut of the Shiv Sena (UBT). Now, Rane’s sons are taking the fight forward. His elder son Nilesh, a former MP, who joined the Shinde Sena, will take on Vaibhav Naik from UBT in Kudal. In neighbouring Kankavali, Rane’s younger son Nitesh is looking for a hat-trick against Sandesh Parkar of the Shiv Sena (UBT).
6. Zeeshan Siddique (NCP Ajit Pawar) vs Varun Sardesai (Sena UBT) in Bandra East: In this seat in Mumbai, Varun Sardesai, the nephew of Uddhav Thackeray, is taking on Zeeshan Siddique, who is riding on sympathy factor following the murder of his father and NCP Ajit Pawar -leader Baba Siddique. Zeeshan, throughout his campaign in the Muslim-dominated seat, has been seeking justice for his father. The seat, which houses the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), is especially important for the Thackerays as it houses Matoshree. The MNS has pitched ex-Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Trupti Sawant, while Kunal Sarmalkar from Shinde Sena is contesting as an independent.
7. The Deshmukhs vs BJP in Latur: The sons of the late former CM and Congress leader Vilasrao Deshmukh are fighting to keep his legacy alive in their bastion of Latur. While Dhiraj will take on Ramesh Karad in Latur Rural, Amit will take on Archana Chakurkar (BJP). Chakurkar is the daughter-in-law of Shivraj Patil-Chakurkar, a former union home minister and speaker of the Lok Sabha who is banking on Lingayat support and OBC consolidation. Karad is the nephew of Pune-based education baron Vishwanath Karad and an OBC leader.
8. Amit Thackeray (MNS) vs Mahesh Sawant (Sena UBT) vs Sada Sarvankar (Shinde Sena) in Mahim: The seat, which houses the Shiv Sena Bhavan, now Sena UBT headquarters, and the prestigious Shivaji Park, is seeing a three-way fight. While Shinde Sena’s Sarvakar versus UBT’s Mahesh Sawant was interesting in itself, the addition of MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s son Amit made the battle high-voltage. While novice Amit Thackeray is campaigning, it is Raj Thackeray’s prestige at stake. For any of the three parties, winning this seat would strengthen the hold on the legacy of Bal Thackeray.
9. Chhagan Bhujbal (NCP Ajit Pawar) vs Manikrao Shinde (NCP Sharad Pawar) in Yevla: This one is against a battle of the NCP. Although a bastion, this is a fight for survival for Bhujbal, who takes on Manikrao Shinde. Sharad Pawar is leading the fight against Bhujbal, his former protege who sided with Ajit. The Maratha anger over OBC leader Bhujbal’s opposition to quota could also hit him in Yeola. Pawar’s candidate Shinde is a Maratha leader.
10. Ashish Shelar (BJP) vs Asif Zakaria (Congress) in Bandra West: A three-time MLA Shelar is banking on the development work carried out by the BJP in Maharashtra. Zakaria, meanwhile, is hoping for support from the Muslim pockets.
11. Nawab Malik vs Abu Azmi in Mankhurd-Shivajinagar: In an embarrassment for the Mahayuti, Nawab Malik, who is facing a money laundering probe in a case involving Dawood Ibrahim and his aides Chhota Shakeel, Tiger Memon, has filed his nomination here, even though the Shinde Sena has nominated Shivaji Patil (Bullet Patil). Malik is a three-term MLA and was a minister in the MVA government. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Malik was granted bail on medical grounds in July this year.
12. Shaina NC (Shinde Sena) vs Amin Patel (Congress) in Mumbadevi: While BJP leader Shaina NC was surprise pick by Shinde Sena, her candidature has created a buzz in the constituency. Amin Patel has been undefeated in this constituency, comprising Muslim-dominated pockets, since 2009. In 2019, Patel defeated Shiv Sena (undivided) candidate Pandurang Sakpal by around 23,000 votes.
13. Dhananjay Munde (NCP Ajit Pawar) vs Rajesahab Deshmukh (NCP Sharad Pawar) in Parli: It is a battle of the NCP here. Munde had defeated his cousin and BJP leader Pankaja Munder in Parli in 2019. This time he will be taking on the Sharad Pawar faction’s Rajesahab Deshmukh. Marathwada’s Parli is polarised over the reservation issue. The fight between Munde, an OBC, and Deshmukh, a Maratha has made it interesting.
14. Chandrashekhar Bawankule (BJP) vs Suresh Yadavrao Bhoyar (Congress) in Kamthi: State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule is confident in his home turf in Vidarbha. He won the seat in 2004, 2009, and 2014. Bhoyar, Nagpur Zilla Parishad president of the Congress, is banking on anti-incumbency against the BJP to work in his favour.
15. Sudhir Mungantiwar (BJP) vs Santoshsingh Chandansingh Rawat (Congress) in Ballarpur: A three-time MLA, Mungantiwar is banking on development to regain the seat. He may however face challenge from Rawat over anti-incumbency and consolidation of votes.
16. Chandrakant Patil (BJP) vs Chandrakant Mokate (Sena UBT) in Kothrud: The BJP veteran is locked in a triangular fight against former MLA Mokate of Sena UBT) and MNS’s Kishor Shinde. Mokate had held the seat from 2009 to 2014.
17. Girish Mahajan (BJP) vs Dilip Khodpe (NCP Sharad Pawar) in Jamner: BJP’s six-time MLA and cabinet minister Girish Mahajan, a troubleshooter for the party, is facing NCP SP’s Khodpe. Khodpe, once an aide of Mahajan, has a strong network of workers, which will make the challenge tougher for Mahajan.
18. Mangal Prabhat Lodha (BJP) vs Bherulal Choudhary (Sena UBT) in Malabar Hill: The high-profile constituency is set for a fight between six-time MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha from the BJP and debutant Bherulal Choudhary. Lodha’s wife, who hails from Bhinmal, the same village in Rajasthan as Choudhary, is garnering support from the Jain community and local residents, against “brother-in-law” Choudhary. While Lodha is banking on the development plank, Choudhary is aiming for redevelopment.
19. Raosaheb Danve (BJP) vs Chandrakant Danve (NCP Sharad Pawar) in Bhokardan: While Danve, a key BJP leader, is confident, he may face the impact of the Jarange-Maratha factor as he faces Chandrakant Danve of NCP SP in Bhokardan.
20. Ganesh Naik (BJP) vs Vijay Choughule (Shinde Sena) vs MK Madhavi (Sena UBT) in Airoli: The Thane seat is one of those where veteran Naik is fighting against their own — Navi Mumbai Shiv Sena chief Choughule. Despite the rift in the Mahayuti, Naik is confident of getting support.
