With 48 Lok Sabha seats, Maharashtra is crucial for both the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance. After a stellar show in the Delhi Assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also in the fray, fielding activists, anti-corruption crusaders and professionals.
The stakes are high for the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) combine, which is trying to weather anti-incumbency. Both the parties are trying to project fresh faces - while the Congress has nominated Shivajirao Moghe, Rajendra Gavit and Sanjay Deotale, among others, those fielded by the NCP include Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare and Suresh Dhas.
This time, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan will seek to improve the Congress' tally from 17 in 2009. The chief minister, who enjoys good rapport with the party high command, has proposed to travel extensively ahead of the polls. The Congress plans to organise at least two rallies by party president Sonia Gandhi and seven by vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
For the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, it is a make-or-break situation. Pawar is trying to double the party's tally from eight in the 2009 elections. Pawar, who has repeatedly clarified he won't be in the running for the post of prime minister in the event of a fractured mandate, is expected to play a key role. He will address about 100 election meetings across the state.
The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance has kicked off its campaign by forging a grand alliance (Maha Yuti) against the Congress-NCP combine. After initial reluctance, the Shiv Sena has extended support to Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate. It is expected Modi will address 12 rallies in the state.
Now, the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance is seen to be struggling, owing to the rapid desertion of Shiv Sena leaders and widening rifts with the BJP. This followed former BJP president Nitin Gadkari urging Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray to abstain from the elections and support Modi as the prime ministerial candidate. Despite efforts to pacify the agitated Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena chief, by BJP leaders, including Modi, the alliance is struggling to manage the situation.
So far, four Shiv Sena members of Parliament, a former Lok Sabha member and the party's youth wing leader have quit to join the NCP. Uddhav, however, has downplayed the defections.
Raj Thackeray, whose entry into the BJP alliance was strongly opposed by the Shiv Sena, has fielded nine candidates, most against the Shiv Sena. In two constituencies, he is supporting the Peasants and Workers Party of India. Clearly, Raj is eyeing the state assembly elections in September-October this year.
Poll planks
Recent untimely rains and hailstorms in 28 districts have damaged about two million hectares of agricultural land. The state government has announced a Rs 4,000-crore relief package for farmers hit by the crisis. The Opposition has, however, pitched for a package of Rs 15,000 crore. Chavan and his deputy, Ajit Pawar, have indicated the government will shell out more funds for relief and rehabilitation. The fact that this will raise the government's revenue deficit isn't likely to dissuade the ruling parties from such a move, coming as it does before the elections.
Another issue being played up ahead of the polls is the multi-crore irrigation scam that had put the NCP on the defensive. NCP leaders, especially Ajit Pawar, have adopted an 'offense is the best defense' strategy to counter the Opposition's charges relating to the scam.
Though the Opposition has, time and again, highlighted the Adarsh housing scam, it hasn't been able to gain much ground on this front. At the same time, the Congress is aware it cannot totally sideline former chief minister Ashok Chavan, one of the 13 against whom the Central Bureau of Investigation has filed charge sheets in this regard. Ashok Chavan enjoys considerable clout in the underdeveloped Marathwada region.
The Opposition has also raised the issue of reservation in jobs and education to the politically-crucial Maratha community, which accounts for about 15 per cent of the overall population. The state government hasn't taken a decision in this regard, citing legal constraints. During the 2009 elections, both the Congress and the NCP had succeeded in securing substantial votes on the issue of reservation for Marathas.
Major contests
Of the 48 constituencies, a third are expected to see close contests. In Gondia, NCP leader Praful Patel, who won the last elections with a huge margin, is pitted against BJP legislator Nana Patole, while former BJP president Nitin Gadkari faces a major challenge from Congress candidate Vilas Muttemwar and the AAP's Anjali Damania in Nagpur.
BJP leader Gopinath Munde, whose differences with Gadkari have surfaced in the run-up to the polls, is seeking re-election from the Beed constituency. He is contesting against NCP nominee Suresh Dhas.
In the Baramati constituency, NCP nominee and Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule is pitted against the Rashtriya Samaj Party's Mahadev Jankar. In Nashik, state public works minister Chhagan Bhujbal is pitted against Shiv Sena and MNS nominees. Rivals have targeted Bhujbal for his alleged involvement in a scam related to the construction of the Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi.
In Raigad, another minister embroiled in corruption allegations, Sunil Tatkare, will take on Shiv Sena nominee Aanant Gite, while Congress party general-secretary Mukul Wasnik will contest against the Shiv Sena's Krupal Tumane in Ramtek.
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