Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Campaigning Reaches Fever Pitch Ahead of Final Day
Pune, 18th November 2024: As the Maharashtra Assembly elections approach on 20th November, political parties are making a final push to reach voters before the election code of conduct comes into effect this evening. The Mahayuti alliance and the Mahavikas Aghadi coalition are leading the charge with high-profile rallies and relentless campaigns in what has shaped up to be a tightly contested race.
Following the withdrawal of nominations on 4th November, the electoral battlelines are drawn. The Mahayuti alliance—comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-Ajit Pawar faction)—is up against the Mahavikas Aghadi, which includes the Congress, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction), and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction). Smaller parties such as the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) are also contesting in several constituencies, adding complexity with triangular and quadrangular fights in some regions.
The Mahavikas Aghadi is riding high after its strong performance in the Lok Sabha elections, while the Mahayuti alliance is leaving no stone unturned to reclaim lost ground. The campaign trail in Maharashtra has seen an influx of top leaders across party lines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have been at the forefront for the Mahayuti alliance.
On the other side, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge have been actively campaigning for the Mahavikas Aghadi, joined by Karnataka Congress leaders, showcasing inter-state camaraderie. Adding a touch of star power, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan has also participated in rallies.
The BJP, demonstrating its organizational strength, has already begun pivoting resources to campaigns in other states, including Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and West Bengal, as part of its broader national strategy.
With the election code of conduct coming into force at 6 p.m. today, candidates are making a final, all-out effort to connect with voters. The last day of campaigning is packed with rallies, door-to-door outreach, and public meetings as leaders aim to leave a lasting impression before polls.
As Maharashtra gears up for polling day, the competition remains fierce, and both alliances are striving to secure a decisive edge in what is shaping up to be one of the most closely fought elections in recent memory.
