As the high-energy campaign for the Maharashtra assembly elections draws to a close on Monday, both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) launched a newspaper advertisement war, targeting each other.

The BJP, an alliance partner of the Mahayuti along with Shiv Sena and NCP, issued a newspaper advertisement on Monday, listing incidents from the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks to the Covid kit scam and blaming the MVA for them.

The ad features newspaper reports of the 2020 murder of sadhus in Palghar and an allegation that “Uddhav Thackeray stopped the CBI probe into it on Rahul Gandhi’s order,” as well as references to the 2006 Mumbai train bombings, the 1993 Mumbai blasts and the “unhealed wounds,” bomb threats to the Ambanis’ house, corruption allegations, among others.

The caption reads, “MVA – Say no to Congress”.

Similarly, Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT)-NCP (Ajit Pawar) alliance’s advertisement listed Mahayuti’s “failures” and “corruption”.

It mentioned hit-and-run cases, crimes against women, Mahayuti’s “unfulfilled promises,” alleged corruption surrounding Shivaji’s statute, and vacant government posts, among others.

“Enough of anti-Maharashtra governance, time to remove the Bhrashtyuti alliance,” the caption reads, mocking the Mahayuti alliance by using ‘Bhrashtyuti’, with ‘Bhrasht’ meaning corruption.

Maharashtra will head to the polls on November 20. The ruling alliance is optimistic about retaining power, while the MVA aims for a strong comeback. The state has seen a high-energy campaign, with key leaders from both sides holding numerous rallies. The outcome of the election on November 23 will be crucial in determining the fate of both alliances.

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Election 2024 is just around the corner. All eyes are on the big fight between the ruling Mahayuti, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena – Shinde) alongwith Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis (BJP), Ajit Pawar (NCP), and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) led by Sharad Pawar (NCP-Sharad Pawar) and Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena-UBT). Andheri East Assembly constituency is one of the key constituencies everyone has their eyes on. Andheri East assembly constituency falls in Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency.

Andheri East assembly constituency is one of the 288 seats from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly up for grabs. The constituency, designated by number 166, falls in Mumbai Suburban District. Andheri East, the general category constituency, is currently represented in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly by Shiv Sena’s Ramesh Latke.

In Maharashtra Legislative Assembly 2019 elections, Ramesh Latke defeated Independent candidate Murji Patel by 16,965 votes. Latke got 62773 votes while Patel got 45808 votes.

Ramesh Latke, has been representing the constituency since 2014.

Andheri West Legislative Assembly Constituency:

As per Election Commission of India, there are 2,88,150 voters in Andheri East constituency

Current situation in Maharashtra assembly:

Currently, the ruling disposition in Maharashtra has 202 MLAs with it. Out of these, BJP has 102 seats, NCP (Ajit Pawar) has 40, Shiv Sena (Shinde) has 38 and other parties have 24.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has 69 seats in its kitty. Out of these, Congress has 37, Shiv Sena (UBT) has 16, NCP (Sharad Pawar) has 12 while other parties have six seats. Fifteen seats are vacant.

Pune: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday likened the BIP and the BSS to “poison” and termed them as politically lethal. Addressing a rally in Sangli, on the penultimate day, Kharge cited the analogy of “a poisonous snake” to buttress his contention.

“If there is anything which is politically the most dangerous in India, it is the BJP and the RSS. They are like poison. If a snake bites, the person (who is hitten) dies..such a poisonous snake should be killed,” said Kharge.

In a dig at the BIP, Kharge said the number of leaders who had campaigned in Maharashtra outnumbered the number of party candidates in the fray.

“The Prime Minister, Home Minister (Amit Shah) and other leaders have been here. Today, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath also marked his presence. No idea what happened. In UP, 10 children died in a devastating fire at a hospital. Despite that, he did not halt his rallies in the state,” the Congress president said.

Congress President Takes Potshots At PM Modi

Kharge also took potshots at PM Narendra Modi. This is an assembly election and not for electing the prime minister of the country, he said, adding that his (Modi’s) “thirst for authority” is unsatiated. He also slammed Modi for not visiting strife-torn Manipur and instead travelling abroad.

“Modi was here till yesterday. Today he is abroad. Manipur is burning, people are dying, adivasi women are disrespected, and women are raped but Modi never visited Manipur. He is on foreign tours. Today he again overseas. I want to tell him, first look after your home. Make the country strong first. You can go anywhere later,” Kharge added.