Maharashtra Polls: Shinde Fields Deora Against Thackeray

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena fields Milind Deora against Aaditya Thackeray from Worli for the Maharashtra polls.
Deora, who left Congress and joined Shinde’s faction, aims to win over Worli’s middle-class voters.
Polls for 288 Assembly seats are scheduled on November 20, with results on November 23.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

In a significant move for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has fielded Milind Deora to contest against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray from the Worli constituency. Aaditya, son of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, is the sitting MLA from Worli, having won the seat in 2019. Deora, who joined Shinde’s Shiv Sena after quitting Congress this year, is seen as a strategic candidate to strengthen the party’s base among Worli’s middle-class Maharashtrians, fishermen, and affluent residents.

The Shinde-led faction has also announced candidates for 20 other seats, with notable names like Sanjay Nirupam for Dindoshi, Nilesh Rane (son of BJP MP Narayan Rane) for Kudal, and Murji Patel for Andheri East. Meanwhile, Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has fielded Sandeep Deshpande from Worli, hoping for Shiv Sena support. However, Shinde’s faction chose to stand by its candidate against Aaditya Thackeray.

Maharashtra’s 288 Assembly seats will go to polls in a single phase on November 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23.