Preparations for the assembly elections in Maharashtra are underway. However, the ECI i.e. Election Commission of India has not announced the dates yet. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has indicated that the elections may be held in November. The state has a coalition government of Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde on Sunday said the state assembly elections are likely to be held in the second week of November and seat sharing among the ruling allies will be finalised in the next 8 to 10 days. Speaking to reporters informally at his official residence ‘Varsha’ in Mumbai, Shinde said it would be better to hold elections to the 288-member state assembly in two phases.
He said the Mahayuti government is focusing on development and welfare measures and is getting a good response from the people. The chief minister said, “Elections are likely to be held in the second week of November. It would be better to hold elections in two phases. Higher probability of victory will be the criterion for seat sharing among the Mahayuti allies.”
He said the seat sharing will be finalised in 8 to 10 days. Shinde said he is seeing support for the government among women and asserted that his government is a government of the common people. He said, “We have maintained a balance between development and welfare schemes.”
The Chief Minister said that 1.5 lakh youths have been given appointment letters under the skill training programme, for which they will get a stipend of Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000. The target is to include 10 lakh youths in this programme. Shinde said that so far 1.6 crore women have received financial assistance under the government’s ‘Ladki Behen Yojana’.
“We plan to reach out to 2.5 crore women,” he said, adding that his government’s aim is to make Mumbai slum-free and ensure affordable housing for all.