Except Congress, other parties will struggle to field 288 candidates

As all major parties prepare to fight the state polls on their own strength, they are finding it difficult to field candidates in all 288 seats across the state. According to political pundits, most parties don’t even have a network of workers in many places.

Dr Rekha Shelke, principal, MGM College of Journalism & Mass Communication, said, “After the break-up of major alliances, parties will find it hard to get good candidates for each constituency.” 

Hours before NCP announced its decision to split on Thursday, Congress state unit president Manikrao Thakre had made it clear that his party was ready with a list of 288 candidates. 

Jaydev Dole, an expert, said, “Except Congress, not other party has the strength to fill all the seats. Congress has old party workers across the state. In such a case, parties may give tickets to sitting MLAs as they are likely to have good rapport with the local people in their constituencies.”

Dole added that BJP-Sena were in an alliance for last 25 years and BJP doesn’t have its workers in most parts of Maharashtra. “BJP has a presence only in urban area unlike the Sena, which is a regional party and has good presence in rural belts. In Marathwada, BJP has only two of the 46 seats in the present assembly. The party will definitely struggle to field candidates in areas like Marathwada.”