• Source:ANI
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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared that the ruling Mahayuti alliance does not need to announce a candidate for the Chief Minister's post as Eknath Shinde, the current Chief Minister, has already been designated as the alliance’s CM face, dispelling any speculation about leadership within the coalition. Devendra Fadnavis asked the Mahayuti coalition to announce their chief ministerial candidate instead.

"The Mahayuti doesn't have to announce a CM face; our chief minister is already here. I challenge Pawar Saheb to announce their face for the CM post," Devendra Fadnavis said while speaking at a press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday.

This remark was directed at the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), criticising them for not declaring a chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections. Fadnavis took a jab at the MVA, stating, "They aren’t announcing a CM face because they don't believe their CM can come to power after the elections."

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Devendra Fadnavis further attacked the MVA’s governance record, alleging misconduct and corruption during their tenure. He criticised the opposition alliance for law and order failures, referencing incidents involving a former home minister jailed for corruption. 

The opposition MVA, consisting of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP, is yet to announce its chief ministerial candidate. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray had earlier hinted that the MVA would reveal its CM face only after the Mahayuti does. However, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has downplayed the need for such an announcement before the elections, stating that the leadership question will be decided post-election, based on the coalition’s performance.

Chief Minister Shinde expressed confidence in the Mahayuti’s victory, attributing it to the success of welfare schemes initiated by the government. Responding to opposition criticism of the Election Commission and EVMs, CM Shinde said, ''When the opposition wins, they praise the EVMs and the Commission. When they lose, they criticise them. The people of Maharashtra see through this hypocrisy.''

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The Election Commission of India announced on Tuesday that Maharashtra's assembly elections will be held in a single phase on November 20, with results declared on November 23. The nomination process begins on October 22 and the last date for withdrawal is November 4.

The Mahayuti is set to face a tough contest as the MVA seeks to regain control after the 2019 election, where the Congress and Shiv Sena (then unified) won 154 of 288 seats as part of the MVA coalition. However, the political landscape has shifted and both alliances are bracing for a highly competitive election.

(With ANI Inputs)

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