Can Congress put up a strong show against BJP in Maharashtra polls?

The Congress is hoping to put up a strong show against the BJP in 75 of the 288 seats in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls after a dismal performance in 2019.

In Short

• BJP, Congress to face off on 75 of 288 seats in Maharashtra polls
• BJP fields candidates in Vidarbha, western Maharashtra, Konkan
• Maharashtra Assembly polls on November 20, vote counting on November 23

The BJP and Congress are headed for a straight fight on 75 of the 288 seats in this month's Assembly election. The Congress is hoping to capitalise on its good performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha election in the state by winning most of these seats in the Assembly polls.

The saffron party has fielded most of its candidates against Congress in Vidarbha (47), followed by western Maharashtra (32), northern Maharashtra (17), Marathwada (19) and Konkan (33), including Mumbai and Thane.

In the 2019 election, the Congress and BJP were locked in a direct battle on 66 seats, of which it managed only 16 while the BJP got 50.

BJP vs CONGRESS IN 2019 ASSEMBLY ELECTION RESULT:

VIDARBHA

In 2019, there was a direct contest on 31 seats, in which Congress won just eight seats and BJP secured 23. This year, the contest is on between both parties in most of these seats. The voting pattern in Vidarbha could be key to forming the next government in the state.

State presidents of both the parties are from this region - Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Vijay Wedattiwar.

MUMBAI

In 2019, the BJP and Congress contested on 12 seats in Mumbai. The Congress managed to win just one seat (Aslam Shaikh from Malad West). It will be interesting to see how urban voters in the state vote and whether the alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT) can help Congress this time.

NORTHERN MAHARASHTRA

There were six seats contested in northern Maharashtra between the two parties and Congress won only two in the region.

MARATHWADA

The BJP and Congress contested against each other on 10 seats and the grand old party mustered only three.

WESTERN MAHARASHTRA

Seven seats were up for grabs between the BJP and the Congress and the grand old party got just two.

Maharashtra will vote in a single phase on November 20. Counting of votes will take place three days later.

(with inputs from Devyani Edlabadkar)