The bugle for assembly elections in Maharashtra has been sounded. Very little time is left for the elections now. All political parties are busy in their election preparations. The main contest in Maharashtra is between Mahayuti i.e. BJP, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP and Maha Vikas Aghadi i.e. Congress, NCP (Sharad Chandra Pawar) and Shiv Sena (UBT). However, now Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has also made a big announcement. Raj Thackeray has said that MNS will be a part of the BJP-led government after the elections.

What did Raj Thackeray say?

Speaking to a private channel, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray said that I think the next Chief Minister of the state will be from the Bharatiya Janata Party and we will be together. Raj Thackeray made this statement soon after Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' announcement in which Fadnavis has announced to support his son Amit Thackeray for the Mahim seat of Mumbai.

What did Fadnavis say?

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday that BJP's stand is clear that we should support Amit Thackeray. He said that the CM wanted us not to field any candidate against Amit Thackeray, but many leaders believed that if a candidate was not fielded, the votes could go to Shiv Sena (UBT). That's why we fielded Sada Sarwankar.

When are the elections?

In Maharashtra, voting will be held in a single phase for all 288 assembly seats on November 20. The election results will be declared on November 23. Read the complete schedule of the election ahead:

• Date of issue of election notification- 22.10.2024 (Tuesday)
• Last date for nomination- 29.10.2024 (Tuesday)
• Date for scrutiny of nominations- 30.10.2024 (Wednesday)
• Last date for withdrawal of candidature- 04.11.2024 (Monday)
• Voting date- 20.11.2024 (Wednesday)
• Counting date- 23.11.2024 (Saturday)