Maharashtra polls' nomination deadline ends but uncertainty looms over 15 seats

The ruling alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party of Ajit Pawar is yet to announce the names of candidates for four seats.

Meanwhile, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance comprising the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP, and the Congress has not officially declared candidates for 11 seats.

As of Tuesday, the BJP has fielded 152 candidates including 52 from Ajit Pawar's faction of NCP, and 80 from Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena.

This also includes seats allotted to smaller allies- four in case of the BJP and two for Shiv Sena.

In the opposition camp, the Congress has fielded 103 candidates while both Uddhav Thackeray's faction of Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar named 87.

On Tuesday afternoon, Sharad Pawar announced that 87 was the final number for his party. However, it still doesn't solve the mystery of 11 seats.

While some of these seats are expected to go to the smaller allies and the Samajwadi Party, there is still no clarity on the sharing equation.

The unprecedented situation follows weeks of tussle in the Opposition camp.

But not just the opposition, even the ruling alliance, which had more or less got its house in order, continues to keep the situation in embroil.

Maharashtra will vote for the assembly elections on November 20, with counting of votes set for November 23.