The hustle and bustle of campaigning for the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand came to a halt on Sunday evening. On the final day of campaigning, the political party leaders showed their maximum effort. Rallies and public meetings from Ranchi to Mumbai were ongoing. The election for 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra is scheduled to take place in one phase on November 20. Simultaneously on November 20, voting for 38 seats in the second phase in Jharkhand will take place, with the results being announced on November 23.
The Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra is currently dealing with the task of protecting the government. This coalition consists of BJP, Shiv Sena led by Shinde, and NCP led by Ajit Pawar. The primary competition for Mahayuti comes from the Mahavikas Aghadi alliance, which is the opposition. Together with Congress, the Aghadi comprises of Sharad Pawar’s NCP and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. Additionally, numerous small and allied partners will also participate in the test on November 20.
In the lead up to the assembly elections, intense conflicts arose between the ruling party and the opposition. Particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah conducted campaign rallies throughout the state. Meetings were conducted by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar, and Devendra Fadnavis throughout the state. Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray, head of the Thackeray group, also conducted meetings throughout the state. Sharad Pawar displayed a high level of aggression during this election. At 83 years old, he energetically campaigned across the entire state.
During the final day of campaigning, the Thackeray brothers engaged in intense criticism and exchanges of comments, making it a standout moment in the election. Raj Thackeray first called Uddhav Thackeray a traitor. Uddhav Thackeray also addressed the criticism directed at Raj Thackeray. Uddhav Thackeray referred to Raj Thackeray’s political party as Gujarat Navnirman Sena.
Conversely, the political contest in Jharkhand has also grown quite intriguing. On the final day of campaigning, numerous prominent BJP leaders conducted public gatherings. The election for the state’s second phase is scheduled for 20 November, with 38 seats up for grabs. The majority of these seats are located in tribal regions. In the upcoming elections’ second phase, the outcomes for several prominent figures like the Soren family, ex-CM Babulal Marandi, and two former deputy CMs are uncertain. There are a total of 528 candidates participating in this stage.
On the final day of the election campaign, Rahul Gandhi, a leader of the Congress party, visited both states. Initially, he conducted a press conference in Maharashtra, taking aim at the Modi administration. In addition, he attempted to create a political balance by making fun of PM Modi’s slogan ‘Ek Hain To Safe Hain’. Following that, he arrived in Jharkhand and held a press conference in Ranchi. He mentioned that the BJP’s bias against Jharkhand and tribal people is evident in their failure to settle Jharkhand’s outstanding dues of Rs 1.36 lakh crore. This money should be used for the education, health, and overall growth of the community.
The by-election campaign on 9 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh has also concluded. The primary contest in the by-elections is among BJP, Samajwadi Party, and BSP. Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister, was personally overseeing the BJP’s election campaign. However, Akhilesh Yadav of the SP was observed maintaining a political equilibrium. The by-elections in UP are taking place on 9 seats, which are Katehari, Karhal, Meerapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sisamau, Khair, Phulpur and Kundarki.