Congress finalizes candidates for Maharashtra elections in October 2024

On October 21, 2024, the Central Election Committee of the Congress party met to determine its candidates for upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. This important gathering was led by party president Mallikarjun Kharge and included prominent leaders such as Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. This meeting occurred shortly after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominated candidates for 99 seats out of 288 in Maharashtra, raising the stakes for Congress. In the lead-up to the elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut declared that the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had reached a significant agreement regarding 210 assembly seats, positioning the coalition as a united front against the ruling Mahayuti government. Raut's assertion emphasized the collective aim of opposing corrupt forces within the state, underlining a commitment to contesting the elections together. However, tension surfaced regarding the distribution of seats, as Congress sought a larger share compared to what was proposed by Shiv Sena (UBT). The latter initially favored a 100-100 seat distribution between their party and Congress, while Congress sought around 125 seats, leading to public criticism from leaders like Raut directed towards Congress's state president, Nana Patole. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the agreements and disagreements within the MVA coalition will shape their strategy moving forward in the electoral battle, ultimately impacting the outcome of the elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.