Mumbai, Nov 19 : In possibly the most critical state Assembly elections with possible national ramifications, over 9.50 crore people in Maharashtra will troop out on Wednesday to pick their choice between the ruling MahaYuti alliance and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi-INDIA bloc.

While both sides are confidently claiming that they will sweep the polls, the ruling MahaYuti may witness a struggle to even touch the ‘magic figure’ of 145 (out of the 288 Assembly seats), as its reputation came under a cloud with the ‘cash-dole’ scam that erupted in its face on Tuesday -- just 24 hours before the elections.

The ruling alliance comprises Shiv Sena led by CM Eknath Shinde, Bharatiya Janata Party with Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, and Nationalist Congress Party headed by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

The MVA-INDIA bloc consists of Congress led by Nana F. Patole, the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) headed by Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) helmed by Uddhav Thackeray.

Till Tuesday evening, the two sides -- MahaYuti and MVA -- have been crowing that they are poised to form the next regime with anything between 165 and 180 seats under the respective belts.

In order to ensure a sweep, both groups had deployed top national and state leaders for the mega-decibel poll campaigning -- which ended on Monday -- in an all-out bid to woo the wise voters, have published alluring manifestos, individual or combined and promised doles and sops at all sections of the society.

There are a total of 4,136 candidates vying for the 288 constituencies hailing from the two main rival alliances, plus other parties or groups and Independents including a motley of rebels with damaging prospects on official nominees.

Among the major contestants, the BJP is contesting 148 seats, Shiv Sena is pitching for 80 and NCP is in the fray for 53 seats; the Congress is contesting 103, Shiv Sena (UBT) is fighting in 89, and NCP (SP) is in the fray for 87 seats, besides six for their smaller allies.

Besides, there is the Bahujan Samaj Party led by Mayawati which has put up 237 candidates, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi of Prakash Ambedkar with 200 contestants, and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena of Raj Thackeray with 128 nominees.