Maharashtra:Filing of nominations end amid high drama

The filing of nomination papers for the Maharashtra Assembly elections ended Tuesday evening. By the end of the day, both alliances were scrambling to declare their exact seat-sharing formula - as some "friendly contests" too are expected.More than two dozen Independents from both the camps, which included legislators, are in the fray, making the process complex. The BJP is contesting on 148 assembly seats in Maharashtra, the highest among half a dozen major political parties in the ruling and opposition camps, followed by the Congress on 103 as the filing of nominations ended on Tuesday. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has fielded candidates on 80 seats, while Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's NCP has nominated 53 contestants for the November 20 polls to the 288-member state assembly. Five seats were given to other Mahayuti allies while no decision was taken on two segments.
In the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the Congress is contesting on 103 seats followed by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on 89 and NCP (SP) on 87 seats. Six seats were given to other MVA allies, while there was no clarity on three assembly segments.  The BJP and Congress have dropped the maximum number of sitting MLAs among the major political parties.The Bharatiya Janata Party has opted not to grant tickets to eight MLAs, followed by Congress which replaced five MLAs.
As per information, BJP was reportedly angry after Nawab Malik got ticket from Ajit Pawar group.Mumbai BJP President Ashish Shelar has clearly said that after giving ticket to Nawab Malik, BJP is clear that it will not campaign for Nawab Malik.BJP will not promote people associated with Dawood Ibrahim at any cost.Former Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Tuesday filed his nomination papers as NCP candidate from Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar assembly constituency in Mumbai.