Maharashtra polls: Mahayuti, MVA battle rebel trouble

Rebels are all set to queer the pitch for both sides in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. After the last date of withdrawal on Monday, 18 rebels are in the fray from the ruling Mahayuti side and 22 on the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) front.

The Mahayuti managed to placate 25 rebels, but 18 still remain in the fray — nine from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), six from Shiv Sena and the rest from the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party. The BJP is contesting the highest number of seats — 148 in the 288-member Assembly. Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is contesting on 83 seats and NCP on 54.

The opposition MVA pacified 20 rebels, but 22 are still in the fray. Of these, the highest number (11) are from Shiv Sena (UBT). The Congress is contesting on 103 seats in Maharashtra, the party’s lowest-ever number, Shiv Sena (UBT) is contesting on 94 and NCP (SP) on 87.

The state is slated to go to the polls on November 20, while poll results will be announced on November 23.