Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 15 : Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant raised concern on the "arrangement" after the Election Commission of India announced the poll schedule for Maharashtra on Tuesday.
As per the ECI, voting in Maharashtra will be held in a single phase while in Jharkhand, voting is scheduled to be held in two phases. Sawant pointed out that Maharashtra will be voting for its 288-member legislative assembly while only there are only 81 constituencies going to polls in Jharkhand.
Speaking to ANI on the ECI announcement, Sawant said, "Election Commission has announced election dates but two phases for 81 seats of Jharkhand and one phase for 288 seats of Maharashtra, I don't understand what is the reason behind such an arrangement."
He expressed confidence on the opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi winning with a huge majority and said that they will fight the election with "full strength."
"Maha Vikas Aghadi will fight the election with full strength. People have taught them (BJP) a lesson in the Lok Sabha elections and this time also people are very upset, all their anger will come out in the elections...Maha Vikas Aghadi will win with a huge majority," he said.
Jharkhand is set to vote in two phases on November 13 and 20 while Maharashtra will vote in a single phase on November 20. Votes will be counted on November 23 for both states.
In the recent parliamentary elections to 48 seats in Maharashtra, the opposition MVA fared well. The ruling Mahayuti's share fell to 9 seats, down from 23 seats five years ago while MVA secured 30 seats. In the 2019 assembly election, the BJP won 105 seats and the Congress 44.