The assembly elections in Maharashtra will be held in a single phase on November 20 and the votes will be counted on November 23, the Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar announced on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Rajiv Kumar said that the date of issue of Gazette notification is October 22, last date of filing nominations is October 29, the date for scrutiny of nominations will be October 30 and the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is November 4.

The key contenders in the Maharashtra elections are the ruling Mahayuti Alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress.

In the recent parliamentary elections to 48 seats in the state, the opposition MVA fared well. The BJP’s share fell to 9 seats, down from 23 seats five years ago. MVA secured 30 seats.

In the 2019 assembly election, the BJP won 105 seats and the Congress 44.