A total of 258 candidates are in the fray in this phase. The high–profile Baramati will have the highest number of candidates at 38, while Ratnagiri–Sindhudurg at 9 has the least number of candidates.

 

Around 2.09 crore people will vote on May 7, which includes 1.07 crore men, 1.02 crore women and 929 transgenders. The 11 constituencies have 23,036 polling centres of which 114 are critical. The Satara constituency in western Maharashtra at 40 has the highest number of critical polling centres, while Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg have zero such centres. For the voting, as many as 46,491 ballot units; 23,036 control units and 23,036 VVPAT machines will be put in use.

 

The phase is particularly of vital importance for NCP chief Ajit Pawar and his estranged uncle NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar as both will face-off in an electoral battle for the first time in their political careers. Of four seats contested by NCP, three—Baramati, Raigad and Dharashiv— will go to polls in this phase, and of 10 NCP(SP) seats, three— Baramati, Madha, Satara in western Maharashtra—will go to polls in this phase.

 

The third phase will feature one of the most high-profile contests in this general election at Baramati where Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar will take on incumbent Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar. For this crucial battle, Ajit Pawar stationed himself in Baramati for the entire period of the phase, personally campaigning in every LS Assembly constituency. This most keenly fought battle will decide the fate of Ajit Pawar after his rebellion against uncle Sharad Pawar.

 

 

For the ruling alliance, BJP will contest a maximum six seats while Eknath Shinde led Sena will contest two seats.

 

In the Opposition, Congress will contest three seats while Uddhav Thackeray led Sena will contest five.

 

This phase had Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold rallies for NDA candidates in Kolhapur, Satara, Solapur, Pune, Dharashiv, Latur, Baramati, Madha and Hatkanangle. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath also campaigned for BJP in Sangli, Kolhapur and Solapur.

 

In the Opposition, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi held rallies in Pune and Latur respectively. But the star campaigner for the Opposition turned out to be Uddhav Thackeray, chief of Sena-UBT who held rallies in each and every one of 11 constituencies for MVA candidates.

 

Political realignments in western Maharashtra’s Madha and Solapur constituency initiated by NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar led to the panic in BJP camp and consequently a change in its strategy. Western Maharashtra’s Baramati, Madha, Solapur, Satara, Kolhapur, Hatkanangle, Sangli constituencies fall in the state’s sugar belt where Pawar enjoys reasonable influence.