The Congress party has announced Varsha Eknath Gaikwad as its candidate for the Mumbai North Central Parliamentary constituency in Maharashtra for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The selection of Gaikwad was approved by the Congress Central Election Committee, as stated in an official release on Thursday. This move comes as part of the party's preparations for the upcoming elections in Maharashtra, with polling for the parliamentary seats having commenced on April 19 in the first phase and scheduled on various dates in April and May.
Maharashtra, a significant state with 48 Lok Sabha seats, is the second-largest contributor to the lower house of Parliament after Uttar Pradesh. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP emerged victorious in 23 out of the 25 seats they contested, while the undivided Shiv Sena secured 18 out of their 23 contested seats. The undivided NCP, a component of the opposition alliance, contested 19 seats and managed to win four seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Following the split within the Shiv Sena in 2022, the Eknath Shinde faction joined forces with the BJP.
The polls for the parliamentary constituencies in Maharashtra are set to take place on different dates in April and May. The first phase of voting was held on April 19, and subsequent rounds are scheduled for April 26, May 7, May 13, and May 20. The counting of votes and the announcement of results are expected to be revealed on June 4. This electoral process signifies a crucial moment for the political landscape in Maharashtra, as parties strategize and vie for representation in the Lok Sabha.