There are total 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra; and any political party or alliance is required to win 144 seats to form next government in Mahrashtra. Presently, Congress and NCP alliance is ruling state of Maharashtra from last ten years. In last assembly election 2004, NCP-Congress alliance got 139 seats; BJP-ShivSena got 119 seats and other 30 seats.
In recently held Lokabha Election 2009, Congress party showed great performance by winning 18 seats (maximum seats for any single party in Maharashtra); while NCP increased its vote share by 1.4%. Therefore, third time in row Congress and NCP alliance looks to have an edge over BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. The major concern for BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is Raj Thackeray’s party MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) political party.
MNS has shown a good performance in around 14 Loksabha seats in recent Loksabha election; by making ShivSena-BJP alliance to loss all Mumbai seats. On the other hand, Samajwadi Party is other spoiler for Congress-NCP alliance; which has stronghold in some pockets of Maharashtra. By realising this situation, BJP-ShivSena alliance have already started raising numbers of issues like increasing prices of food, vegetable and electricity.
Congress-NCP alliance will also hope to do well in these elections on the bases of incentives given to farmers and poor people in recent budget। Maharashtra assembly elections will be next tough election battle in India. In coming months, we will get more chance to get pulse of Maharashtra voters and political situation in Maharashtra.
Read this article in Hindi- महाराष्ट्र विधानसà¤ा चुनाव 2009
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