Maharashtra and Jharkhand are preparing for crucial Legislative Assembly elections in November 2024. The Election Commission has set Maharashtra’s single-phase election for November 20, with results expected on November 23. The 288-member assembly has seen significant political shifts, particularly with Eknath Shinde becoming Chief Minister after parting ways with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena to ally with the BJP. In the previous 2014 elections, the BJP won 122 seats, but faced turbulent dynamics leading to the Maha Vikas Aghadi government before Shinde’s takeover in 2022.
In Jharkhand, the BJP has announced candidates for 66 of the 68 seats it plans to contest. The party has outlined a seat-sharing agreement with allies Ajsu-P, JDU, and LJP (Ram Vilas), while leaving the Barhait (ST) and Tundi seats unfilled. Barhait is expected to be contested by incumbent CM Hemant Soren. The candidate selections were finalized by the BJP’s central election committee, led by J P Nadda and attended by PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Notable candidates include veteran leader C P Singh, running for a seventh term in Ranchi, and opposition leader Amar Kumar Bauri, contesting in Chandankyari (SC). State BJP president Babulal Marandi will stand in Dhanwar, while former health minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi and ex-JMM leader Champai Soren are set to compete in Bishrampur and Seraikela (ST), respectively. Champai’s son, Babulal Soren, has been fielded from Ghatshila (ST).
The BJP has released its first list of 99 candidates, with Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis contesting from Nagpur South West. Other candidates include state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule from Kamthi, minister Girish Mahajan from Jamner, and minister Sudhir Mungantiwar from Ballarpur, among others.
