Polling for Maharastra’s 288 assembly seats and 38 assembly seats in the second and final phase of Jharkhand elections commenced on Wednesday.In Maharashtra, the ruling Mahayuti alliance (BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP) is vying to retain power, while opposition’s the Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT)-NCP (SP)) is hoping for a strong comeback.Voting began in all the 288 assembly seats at 7 am and will end at 6 pm, an election official said.Meanwhile, polling for 38 assembly seats in the second and final phase of Jharkhand elections commenced this morning, amid tight security arrangements. Voting began at 7 AM in 14,218 booths across 12 districts and will continue till 5 PM.The ruling JMM-led INDIA bloc is seeking to retain power riding on its welfare schemes, while the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is trying to wrest it.The first phase of elections was held on November 13The counting of votes in both states will be held on November 23.Jharkhand: BJP bets big on JMM bastian Santhal Pargana In the run-up to the elections, the BJP has made a concerted effort to make inroads into the Santhal Pargana region, a stronghold of the CM Hemant Soren-led JMM, particularly focusing on the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration. The key constituencies in this region include Pakur, Rajmahal, Barhait, and Dumka.From BJP leaders at the Centre and state level to JMM turncoats like Chamapi Soren and Sita Soren (daughter-in-law of Shibu Soren), the opposition has accused the incumbent government of altering the demographics of Santhal Pargana. They have also pledged to introduce laws to curb infiltration.However, the JMM has dismissed this as a mere poll plank.READ FULL REPORT HEREJharkhand BJP chief Marandi casts vote in GiridihJharkhand BJP President and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi cast his vote at a polling booth in Giridih. Marandi, who served as the state’s first Chief Minister, is contesting from the Rajdhanwar seat. In an interview with TNIE’s Mukesh Rajnan, Marandi expressed confidence in the BJP’s prospects in Jharkhand, asserting that the people would vote for the saffron party this time.#WATCH | Giridih: Jharkhand BJP President Babulal Marandi casts his vote at a polling booth in Giridih for #JharkhandAssemblyPolls2024 pic.twitter.com/auPOdnq8ff— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2024 Anguish of cotton and soybean farmers could sway Maharashtra polls. Here’s why.Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, renowned for its cotton and soybean output, is grappling with a crisis. Excessive rains have led to a sharp decline in both yield and prices, leaving farmers struggling.The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is bearing the brunt of this discontent. Several leaders have been forced to cancel campaign rallies after facing tough questions from frustrated farmers. Notably, northern Maharashtra is a BJP stronghold where cotton farmers’ anger over falling prices has become a flashpoint.Meanwhile, the Congress-led opposition has seized the opportunity, aggressively highlighting the plight of cotton growers.Maharashtra, India’s second-largest cotton producer, counts over 4 million farmers dependent on the crop. However, recent reports of 2.2 million bales of cotton imports have raised fears of a further domestic price crash, compounding farmer woes just as election tensions mount.MahaYuti’s Maha concern: Soyabean & cotton farmersRSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat casts vote in NagpurRSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat casts his vote at a polling station in Nagpur. Speaking to reporters, Bhagwat said: “In a democracy, voting is a citizen’s duty. Every citizen should perform this duty. I was in Uttaranchal, but I came here last night to cast my vote. Everyone should vote.”RSS, which is the ideological mentor of the BJP, has lent its full force to buttressing the saffron party’s prospects in Maharashtra. The Sangh has been carrying out door-to-door campaigns and has strategically supported BJP candidates in vulnerable constituencies. READ FULL REPORT HERE#WATCH | Nagpur, Maharashtra: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat says, "In a democracy, voting is a citizen's duty. Every citizen should perform this duty. I was in Uttaranchal, but I came here last night to cast my vote. Everyone should vote…"#MaharashtraAssemblyElections2024 https://t.co/TPje6eCYg2 pic.twitter.com/U6ePRamY7f— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2024 Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar casts vote, says Mahayuti is marching towards clear majorityMumbai BJP president and candidate from Bandra West assembly constituency, Ashish Shelar casts his vote at a polling station in St. Stanislaus High School of Bandra in Mumbai.In an interview with TNIE, Shelar emphasised that the Mahayuti will get a clear majority and confirmed that the Chief Minister seat will be decided after the election. READ FULL INTERVIEW HERE#WATCH | #MaharashtraAssemblyElections2024 | Mumbai BJP president and candidate from Bandra West assembly constituency, Ashish Shelar casts his vote at a polling station in St. Stanislaus High School of Bandra in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/VopuZsiP2p— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2024 Deputy CM Ajit Pawar casts vote in Baramati, faces nephew YugendraMaharashtra Deputy CM and NCP candidate from Baramati Assembly constituency casted his vote early on Wednesday.Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, the NCP leader said: “We have done the work, we want to work and we have the vision for future developments. I have faith in the voters of Baramati that they will make me victorious and send me to the Assembly for the eigth time.”Ajit, the nephew of NCP patriach Sharad Pawar, broke up the NCP to side with the BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena in 2023. He will now take on his nephew Yugendra Pawar in the prized Baramati seat.Yugendra, the son of Ajit Pawar’s younger brother Shrinivas, also cast his vote along with his parents in Baramati.TNIE’s Sudhir Suryawanshi reports that there are many indications that the race could be decided on the word of Sharad Pawar.Read full report here on the battle for Baramati#WATCH | Baramati: Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP candidate from Baramati Assembly constituency, Ajit Pawar shows his inked finger after casting his vote for #MaharashtraElection2024 He says "Mahayuti is going to form the government here…" pic.twitter.com/oGsCBMMbsL— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2024 Rebel candidates to play spoilsport in Maharashtra?Rebels are in the fray in over 150 constituencies, with candidates from the Mahayuti and MVA contesting against their party’s official nominees.There is a huge buzz around who the independents will harm the most—the Mahayuti or the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Besides the Congress and BJP, it has also hit both the Senas and both the NCPs.There is not the slightest doubt among anyone that rebels have spiced up the polls whose results are due on November 23. A viral audio clip of Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has also underlined how much of a headache have been to political parties.READ FULL REPORT HEREIt’s ‘infiltration’ vs ‘mahila samman’ in Jharkhand phase-IIThe second phase of polling in Jharkhand will cover 38 constituencies across 12 districts, testing key campaign themes. The BJP-led NDA has focused on issues like Bangladeshi infiltration, while the JMM-led INDIA bloc is banking on its “Mahila Samman” scheme, which provides Rs 1,000 monthly to women aged 18-50.The BJP’s campaign in Jharkhand has centered on allegations that the ruling alliance is enabling Bangladeshi infiltration, allegedly altering the demographic makeup of Santhal Pargana. The JMM has dismissed these claims as politically motivated, branding BJP candidates as outsiders. JMM and Congress leaders have urged tribal voters to reject the BJP, accusing it of attempting to disrupt and divide Santhal Pargana’s social fabric.Phase-II will also see the electoral fate of 528 candidates, including Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren both (both JMM) and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri (BJP) will be decided.Other prominent candidates on the ballot includes state BJP president and ex-CM Babulal Marandi, Assembly Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto (JMM) and BJP ally AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto.READ FULL STORY HEREThe battle for MaharashtraThe Mahayuti is banking on its popular schemes like Majhi Ladki Bahin for women helping it retain power. In the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP is contesting 149 seats, Shiv Sena is in the fray in 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has fielded candidates in 59 constituencies. In the opposition’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) combine, the Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) has put up 86 candidates. Smaller parties, including the Bahujan Samaj Party and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), are also contesting, with BSP fielding 237 candidates and AIMIM 17 in the 288-member Lower House.The BJP’s use of slogans like “Batenge toh katenge” and “Ek hai toh safe hai” prompted the opposition parties to accuse the Mahayuti of polarising voters along religious lines.The MVA slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s use of “Batenge toh katenge” and PM Modi’s “Ek hai toh safe hai’ slogans. They countered the ruling combine’s rhetoric by focusing on issues like caste-based census, social justice, and protecting the Constitution.The election campaign saw prominent leaders like Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and many Union ministers crisscrossing the state to garner votes for their candidates.
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