Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 5 : Maharashtra's Chief Electoral Officer, S Chockalingam, announced on Tuesday that 7,078 nomination papers were filed for the upcoming State Assembly polls, of which 2,038 were withdrawn, leaving a final count of 4,140 candidates contesting on November 20.
Addressing a press conference ahead of the elections, Maharashtra CEO Chockalingam stated, "A total of 7,078 nomination papers were filed, out of which 2,038 applications were withdrawn. The number of candidates contesting the elections is 4,140."
"The number of eligible voters stands at 9.7 crore, with male voters numbering 5 crore 22 thousand 739 and female voters 4 crore 69 lakh 96 thousand 279," he added.
The CEO also noted that there are a total of 1,00,186 polling stations for the assembly elections, with 42,604 located in urban areas and 57,582 in rural regions.
"Preventive measures have been taken against 46,000 individuals since the implementation of the code of conduct, and a total of Rs 252.42 crore has been seized. The law and order situation in the state remains stable, and we have sufficient manpower. Code of Conduct violations are addressed promptly," he said.
The Maharashtra assembly elections are set for November 20, with the counting of votes for all 288 constituencies scheduled for November 23.
The opposition MVA coalition, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP), aims to reclaim power in the state, challenging the Mahayuti alliance, which includes Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP.
In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP won 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42.