As Vidarbha readies for the assembly elections on November 20, the Congress and BJP lock horns in a high-stakes battle for voter influence. Of the 288 assembly seats across Maharashtra, Vidarbha holds 62 seats, with 36 constituencies seeing direct battles between the Congress and BJP-led alliances. Both camps are investing heavily in campaign promises and key candidate placements in hopes of swaying voters.
Congress, bolstered by its recent Lok Sabha performance, aims to regain ground in this crucial region, focusing on addressing agrarian distress and offering guarantees for job creation and inflation control. Key candidates include Congress state president Nana Patole and opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar. Meanwhile, the BJP, led by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, emphasizes recent development projects in rural and tribal districts, including job creation initiatives in mining and steel sectors. The party’s agenda highlights the continuation of “welfare schemes” aimed at drawing back communities who previously supported Congress.
The Election Commission will conduct polling in a single phase on November 20 and announce results on November 23. Political analysts predict that the region’s agrarian and rural concerns, combined with shifting caste dynamics, will likely play a pivotal role in determining the election outcome.
