The BJP is contesting 149 seats, Shiv Sena 81, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) 59. The Congress has fielded 101 candidates, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) has 95 candidates in the race, and the Sharad Pawar faction of NCP is contesting 86 seats.The state has a registered voter base of approximately 9.7 crore, making voter turnout a key factor in determining the results.In light of the high-profile elections, elaborate security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of voters and the smooth conduct of the polls.Mumbai Police, in particular, has mobilized over 25,000 personnel, including riot-control teams and home guards, to maintain law and order.The Brihanmumbai Police Commissionerate confirmed that more than 2,000 police officers and additional personnel are on duty during the elections to safeguard the process.The battle for power in Maharashtra remains fiercely contested, with shifting alliances and complex political dynamics at play. The primary contest is between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The BJP-led Mahayuti coalition consists of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), while the opposition MVA includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction).In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, while Shiv Sena secured 56, and Congress won 44 seats. In the 2014 elections, the BJP had a stronger showing with 122 seats, while Shiv Sena claimed 63, and Congress secured 42.
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