As the Maharashtra Assembly elections approach, Congress escalated its attack on the ruling Mahayuti alliance, branding it as ?Bhrashtyuti? (a play on words suggesting ?corrupt alliance?) and listing what it claims are the state government?s major failures. Ramesh Chennithala, Congress in-charge for Maharashtra, emphasized that unlike Mahayuti, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has provided "equal treatment to all parties," presenting a united front in the 288-seat election.

During a press conference, Chennithala contrasted the cooperation within the MVA with what he described as discord in the Mahayuti alliance, especially over candidate selection.

?Nominations have been filed on all 288 seats by MVA candidates. When you compare MVA with Mahayuti, there is no tussle within our group. Mahayuti is finished now. We have given equal treatment to all parties in MVA, whereas BJP has taken seats from NCP and Shiv Sena-Shinde,? he asserted.

The rift within Mahayuti became evident after the BJP opposed Nawab Malik's candidacy from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar under Ajit Pawar?s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). BJP leader Kirit Somaiya went as far as calling Malik a ?terrorist? and ?agent of Dawood,? stating that Malik?s nomination was a betrayal by NCP, adding fuel to intra-alliance tensions.

Chennithala accused the BJP of sidelining its partners, saying, ?The BJP wants to kill its alliance partners. We have only issued nomination forms to candidates whose names have already been confirmed by the Congress.? He urged Congress leaders who independently filed nominations to withdraw, reiterating the party?s strategy of unity.

Chennithala also targeted the Maharashtra government?s stalled Ladli Behen Yojana scheme, which was halted by the Election Commission of India (ECI). He claimed that the state lacked the funds to support the scheme, saying it was a false promise aimed at securing votes from women voters.

?The Maharashtra government has no funds for the Ladli Behen Yojana, which is why it was stopped through the ECI. The women of Maharashtra will not get any money. It was all lies told before the elections,? he stated.

With Maharashtra?s Assembly elections set for November 20 and vote counting scheduled for November 23, both alliances are making their final pitches to voters, drawing stark contrasts between their visions for the state?s future.