Maharashtra Elections: Thackeray’s Shiv Sena Declares Candidate, Sparking Tension with Congress!
 

As the Maharashtra Assembly election dates draw near, major parties are gearing up to announce their candidates. In a surprising twist, the Shiv Sena Thackeray faction has declared its candidate for the Bandra (East) constituency, causing a ripple of unease between Congress and Shiv Sena.

Candidate Declaration Raises Eyebrows

Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena has nominated Varun Sardesai for the Bandra (East) seat. Sardesai, a relative of Aditya Thackeray, has been actively involved in politics for the past 14 years and is seen as a close associate of the Thackeray family. This announcement has left Congress leaders feeling disheartened.

Congress in a Political Quandary

Congress leaders are expressing their dissatisfaction, as the declaration of the Shiv Sena candidate has caused confusion among Congress members. Currently, Jeeshan Siddiqui, a Congress member, holds the seat after winning it in the 2019 Assembly elections. Several Congress leaders were eager to contest from Bandra (East), but now find themselves tangled in a political mess.

The UBT (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) alliance has given Congress the Chinchwad seat, leading Shiv Sena to argue that they deserve their candidates for Bandra (East). This unilateral decision by Shiv Sena has sparked discontent within Congress, as many party leaders wish to contest from this crucial seat.

Election Dates and Context

The Election Commission has announced the schedule for the Maharashtra Assembly elections. According to the election committee, voting will take place in a single phase on November 20, with results set to be declared on November 23.

In a parallel development, the Jharkhand elections will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20. The counting of votes for both states is scheduled for November 23. Maharashtra boasts a voter base of 96.3 million, while Jharkhand has around 26 million eligible voters.