Mumbai:
Maharashtra is witnessing a close contest between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDIA bloc as votes are counted for the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The NDA is currently leading on 26 seats, while the INDIA alliance is ahead on 20.
The elections in the state were fought in a changed political landscape after splits in the Shiv Sena and NCP following rebellions by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar.
In 2019, the BJP won 23 seats in Maharashtra and its then ally Shiv Sena (undivided) bagged 18. The then undivided NCP had bagged four constituencies, whereas the Congress could win just one seat.
Maharashtra sends the second biggest contingent to the LS after Uttar Pradesh’s 80 and the outcome here could have a bearing on the shape of the government at the Centre.
Several big names are in the fray, including Nitin Gadkari, Narayan Rane, Piyush Goyal, Bharti Pawar, Raosaheb Danve, Kapil Patil, all Union Ministers, Navneet Kaur-Rana, Ujjwal Nikam, Dr Shrikant Shinde, Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhosale, Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare, and others.
