A representative image of voting.
Credit: iStock photo
The Maharashtra assembly elections this year will take place in a single phase on November 20, with results being declared on November 23.
The 288-member assembly's current tenure comes to an end on November 26. With that in mind, here is a look at the number of voters, polling booths and EVM units that'll be used in the state this time.
The last election was held in October 2019, when the BJP-led NDA alliance won the polls, but Shiv Sena left after an internal conflict, instead forming a new Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) with the NCP and Congress.
MVA formed the state government and Uddhav Thackeray became Chief Minister. However, since then, political crises have rocked the Marathi parties with both Shiv Sena and NCP undergoing a split.
In 2022, Eknath Shinde rebelled leading to the Shiv Sena being split into a Shiv Sena (UBT) faction with Uddhav in charge, while Shinde retained control of the original Sena, founded by Balasaheb Thackeray.
Then, in 2023, Ajit Pawar rebelled against uncle Sharad Pawar, leading to the NCP split and the formation of NCP(SP). The Lok Sabha election performance was a considerable morale booster for the MVA in the state, while Maha Yuti -- the Shinde Sena, BJP, and Ajit Pawar's NCP alliance -- managed to win only 17 of the 48 LS seats.
This time, however, the Maha Yuti is galvanised after BJP's electoral performance in Haryana - snatching victory from Congress who were sure of securing a win. Shinde has already touted that this result will reflect in Maharashtra as well, while Sharad Pawar has tried playing it down, saying it'll have no bearing.
With the Maratha caste quota among the pressing issues bound to be on voters' minds ahead of polling day, it remains to be seen how the western state, and the financial capital of India vote.