MUMBAI: The Chief Election Commissioner of India, Rajiv Kumar, and his team arrived in Mumbai on Thursday for a two-day visit to assess the preparations for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.

During their visit, the Election Commission of India (ECI) will engage in discussions with various stakeholders, including political parties, state government officials, enforcement agencies, district collectors, and Superintendents of Police. Meetings with these groups are scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

On the agenda are talks with representatives from political parties, central paramilitary forces, state chief secretaries, the Director General of Police, administrative secretaries, and senior police personnel. The ECI is also set to meet with district collectors and superintendents of police to ensure all aspects of the election process are in place. A press conference is planned for Saturday evening before the team returns to Delhi.

The current term of the Maharashtra assembly is set to end in the last week of November, prompting speculation about the election dates. The elections for the 288-member Maharashtra legislative assembly are expected to take place in mid-November.

Maharashtra has experienced considerable political turbulence in recent years, marked by coalition shifts, internal disputes, and defections that have tested the stability of the government. The ruling coalition, known as Mahayuti, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and comprising the Shiv Sena, BJP, and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party, aims to retain its position. Meanwhile, the opposition coalition, Maha Vikas Aghadi, which includes Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), and Congress, is eager to challenge the ruling party.

In Mumbai, the assembly elections will cover 10 constituencies within the city and 26 in the suburban areas. Key areas include Dharavi, Malabar Hills, Colaba, Versova, Borivali, and Byculla. Currently, the BJP and Shiv Sena hold the majority of the assembly seats in Mumbai, with three seats occupied by the Indian National Congress and one by the Samajwadi Party.

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