All you need to know about Maharashtra Assembly polls 2014

3. The Congress has fielded the largest number of 287 candidates, followed by BJP  which has put up 280, Shiv Sena 282, NCP 278 and MNS 219.

4. The poll will test the mettle of four major parties–Congress, NCP, BJP and Shiv Sena individually, with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena trying to emerge as the X factor in the keenly watched contest.

5. The Congress-NCP combine has been ruling the state for 15 years.

6. Narendra Modi addressed 27 rallies, rare by a Prime Minister in a state Assembly election.

7. Long time poll partners BJP and Shiv Sena broke off their alliance after 25 years, whereas NCP & Congress called off their alliance after a 15-year shot at power in the state.

(With PTI inputs)