NEW DELHI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is leading by a margin of over 22,881 votes in the fiercely contested Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency in Thane. This seat has become a focal point in the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections, with Shinde facing significant opposition in his political stronghold.
The contest in Kopri-Pachpakhadi has been a three-way battle, with Shinde, the incumbent Shiv Sena MLA, going head-to-head with Kedar Dighe, the nephew of Shinde’s late mentor Anand Dighe, and Manoj Shinde, an Independent candidate expelled from Congress for anti-party activities. The rivalry between the factions of Shiv Sena has been particularly intense, underscoring the deep divisions within the party.
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Following the conclusion of voting on November 20, the state’s political atmosphere remained charged with both the ruling Mahayuti and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) staking claims to form the next government. State Congress chief Nana Patole expressed confidence that the MVA would secure the majority, with Congress emerging as the leading party in the new assembly.
However, the Shiv Sena (UBT), a key ally of Congress in the MVA, was less certain. Sanjay Raut, a senior Shiv Sena leader, remarked that the decision on the chief minister’s post would be a collective one among alliance partners, adding that if Congress had already decided on Patole as their candidate, it should be officially announced by party leaders.
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In terms of voter turnout, the state saw a healthy 66.05% participation in the assembly elections, up from 61.1% in 2019. Kolhapur district led with the highest turnout at 76.63%, while Mumbai island city had the lowest at 52.07%. A total of 288 counting centres have been set up across the state to tally the results, including one for the Nanded Lok Sabha by-election.
As the results unfold, Eknath Shinde’s strong lead in his constituency signals his enduring political influence in Maharashtra.