Mumbai: The Maharashtra Assembly elections are set to begin after 2938 candidates withdrew from 288 constituencies, with 4,140 candidates competing for 288 seats after the deadline for nomination withdrawal ended on Monday.
A total of 9,70,25,119 voters in the state will decide their fate on November 20. The counting of votes will take place on November 23.
Eight thousand candidates had filed applications for the 1 Legislative Assembly election. The nomination papers of 7 thousand 78 candidates were found valid, a senior election official said.
The deadline for withdrawal of nomination forms ended on Monday. Out of them, 2938 candidates have withdrawn their applications, leaving 4,140 in the fray.
Therefore, finally 4,140 candidates have remained in the election arena, informed the office of the Chief Election Officer late last night.
Majalgaon Constituency of Beed District has a maximum of 34 candidates, while Shahada Constituency of Nandurbar District has only 3 candidates.
There are 33 candidates in Nanded North constituency and 31 candidates in Beed constituency. Five candidates in Mahad and Kudal constituencies and 6 candidates in Shirpur constituencies of Boisar and Dhule districts.
Meanwhile, political atmosphere has been heating up in the state with starts of poll campaigning by political parties for their candidates.
Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge are arriving in the state on November 6 to launch the party campaign.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a series of poll rallies in the state on Wednesday.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde already addressed a poll rally in Mumbai. State Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is also campaigning in his constituency, Baramati.
UBT Chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP-SP Chief Sharad Pawar, and MNS Chief Raj Thackeray are embarking on tours across the state to campaign for their respective candidates.
