Maharashtra & Jharkhand Elections 2023: NDA vs INDIA – Who Will Win?

Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly Elections: NDA vs INDIA Battle

1. Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

• Assembly elections are underway in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
• Maharashtra is voting in a single phase, while Jharkhand is in its second and final phase.
• A fierce contest is underway between the NDA and INDIA alliances.
• Over 4,136 candidates are contesting in Maharashtra, and over 500 in Jharkhand.
• Vote counting will take place on Saturday.

2. Aakhir Tak – In Depth

Mahayuti vs Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra

Voting is taking place today across 288 assembly constituencies in Maharashtra. A total of 4,136 candidates are contesting, with 2,086 being independents. This represents a 28% increase compared to the 2019 elections. The ruling Mahayuti alliance comprises BJP (149 seats), Shinde Sena (81 seats), and Ajit Pawar’s NCP (59 seats). The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance consists of Congress (101 seats), Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (95 seats), and Sharad Pawar’s NCP (86 seats). Top leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi campaigned extensively in the state. The Mahayuti is relying on its popular schemes, while the MVA is focusing on issues like caste-based census, social justice, and protecting the Constitution. Smaller parties like BSP and AIMIM are also contesting.

JMM-Congress-RJD vs BJP-led NDA in Jharkhand

The second and final phase of voting is underway in Jharkhand today. Over 528 candidates, including Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren, are contesting across 38 seats. The BJP has fielded candidates in 68 seats, while its allies are contesting in 13 seats. The opposition INDIA bloc includes JMM (43 seats), Congress (30 seats), RJD (6 seats), and CPI(ML) (4 seats). The BJP has accused Hemant Soren of corruption and alleged infiltration from Bangladesh. The INDIA bloc, on the other hand, has promised welfare schemes and accused the central government of “unleashing” investigative agencies against opposition parties. Today’s voting is taking place in the Santhal Pargana and North Chotanagpur regions. In the 2019 elections, JMM won 30 seats and BJP secured 25 seats. The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance won a comfortable majority with 47 seats.

3. Key Takeaways to Remember

The Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections witness a close contest between the NDA and INDIA alliances. Over 4,136 candidates are contesting in Maharashtra, and over 500 in Jharkhand. Vote counting will be held on Saturday. These elections will determine the political future of both states.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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