"Mahayuti will form govt with absolute majority": Eknath Shinde after EC announces dates for Maharashtra polls

Thane (Maharashtra) [India], October 15 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed strong confidence in the Mahuyuti alliance's success in the upcoming Assembly elections, stating that the outcomes of the welfare schemes will be reflected in the election results.

The assembly elections in Maharashtra will be held in a single phase on November 20, with votes to be counted on November 23, as announced by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday.

The forthcoming Maharashtra election will see a contest between the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition--comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress--and the Maha Yuti Alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction).

"Voting will be held in Maharashtra on 20th November, the day will decide the fate of the state. The works done by Mahayuti in last 2.5 years are before the people to see...Maharashtra is heading towards progress. The state is no. 1 in all services, no. 1 in welfare schemes," Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said while speaking to the media.

"Its results will be seen in the elections. The works of Maha Vikas Aghadi and the State government will be assessed. Mahayuti will form the government with an absolute majority," he added.

On the opposition casting aspersions on the Election Commission and chastity of EVMs, Shinde said, "When the Opposition wins, they praise the EVMs, the Election Commission, and the courts. But when the results aren't in their favour, they criticize the EVMs. The people of Maharashtra recognize that the Opposition is being hypocritical, claiming that the EVMs and the Election Commission are flawed. We approach elections with confidence, energy, and a focus on development."

Earlier today, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut urged the poll body to be impartial and not allow the Maharashtra elections to resemble those of Haryana.

Raising concerns, Raut suggested that everything, from EVMs to postal ballots, could be misused, placing the responsibility on the Election Commission to ensure the elections are conducted fairly.

"We appeal to the EC not to let the Maharashtra election become like the Haryana election. Whether it's EVMs or postal ballots, everything could be misused. Money might come into play. If the Election Commission sees itself as unbiased--though we don't--they will have to address these issues... EVMs are not foolproof," Sanjay Raut said.

In 2019, Maharashtra Assembly polls, the Congress and unified Shiv Sena had won 154 out of 288 seats as part of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition. However, this time around the Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar's NCP and Congress are in alliance to counter BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.
 
In the Lok Sabha election held this year, MVA won 30 of the state's 48 Lok Sabha seats. The ruling alliance won 17. One seat went to an Independent candidate. (ANI)