LS poll dates in: Opposition sees Advantage BJP in Maharashtra’s first five-phase schedule

FOR THE first time, the Lok Sabha elections for its 48 seats will be held across five phases in Maharashtra, spread out between April 19 and May 20. The Opposition believes this elongated schedule is only meant to give the BJP, with its better resources, organisational strength and unflagging election machinery, an advantage.

For example, the fact that Western Maharashtra and North Maharashtra are being kept for polling in the last two phases (May 13, 20). Rival parties point out that the BJP and its allies are caught in a bitter seat-sharing tussle here, and it gives them more time now to coordinate when it comes to critical constituencies as well as figure out the best utilisation of their star campaigners.

Marathwada is one of the regions which will see polls in the most phases – three, for 8 seats altogether. This is being seen as a precautionary step given that this is a battleground of the Shiv Sena and NCP, and may see its different factions collide. The Maratha reservation issue and the resultant OBC backlash have also made Marathwada a potentially volatile territory.

In Vidarbha’s 10 seats in contrast, polls are taking place in two phases, right at the start (April 19, 26).

At the same time, Mumbai voting in the last phase might harm the BJP’s prospects. Party leaders point out that its vote base in the region are North Indian immigrants, forming 20% of the voters, who often head to their native places for summer vacations.

The BJP is not shy of admitting that it wants to cash in on the Modi factor in the maximum seats. Given the gap between phases, his rallies can now be more easily planned across regions. Apart from Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be holding