Mumbai: A five-cornered fight has made this more spicy and unpredictable choice. Congress has a "clean" candidate, but the party is fighting business. BJP, on the other hand, is riding the wave Modi but still project a CM.
Congress
Strengths: Presenting a clear chain of command has been a big plus (although moody Narayan Rane seems a permanent fixture). Prithviraj Chavan has also given the party a `clean 'face. Congress remains the party with the largest spread and your organization is intact, which is saying a lot given the beating he took in the LS survey.
Weaknesses: But the organizational force that can take only now, when voters have made up their mind. The weight of 15 years of incumbency and the perception that all-pervading corruption can be difficult for an honest Chief Minister to bear.
Opportunities: This election, when even the staunchest supporters admit the writing on the wall does not make for a pretty picture, provides an opportunity to reassess their own strength. The party's growth has been stunted because of considerations of the alliance and this is ideal for the raid in the regions where it has been granted space for NCP time.
Threats: Several leaders, who have taken a seat assembly for granted, will be fighting with his back against the wall. Rebels and local factors can lead to setbacks until-now-unthinkable, in a situation in which the party needs every vote cast.
Shiv Sena
Strengths: The turnaround since 2009 - when experts predicted would grow MNS and Sena would bleed, perhaps terminal - is complete. Uddhav Thackeray may or may not end up as CM, but aggression (even if it is out of place) has been shown to stop the alliance has been a revelation. It has infected the tropospheric feet Sainik that is showing the stomach for a fight; This confidence will be crucial on October 15 and thereafter.
Weaknesses: The Sena would have done well to note that the prevalence pro-Modi and anti-Congress sentiment contributed to its super-show in the LS survey. Sunday will be expected not bring a reality check. A universal truth of Sena definitely do not want to learn this time: the overestimation of one's strength can be suicidal in s electoral politics.
Opportunities: Breaking the BJP, the Sena has given itself the opportunity to see where you are alone. This choice also gives you a golden opportunity to boost MNS in a tight corner but political demands can prevent is to kill.
Threats: Uddhav will have to play their cards if the Sena falls short of its target. The absolute majority for the BJP would be much worse news to him that the absolute majority in Congress. You also need to do a lot of walk the tight-vis-a-vis the MNS rope: I use it to check the BJP, but not allow it to become so strong that it becomes a threat to the Sena.
MNS
Strengths: MLAs retain some pockets of influence and SNM will fancy their chances in these areas. Enter these surveys knowing that he has nothing to lose.
Weaknesses: The party has grown progressively weaker since the heady days of 2009 fight with his back against the wall after a series of defections.
Opportunities: The division between the BJP and Sena Raj Thackeray has given a ray of hope. You can maneuver if his party gets a two-digit number of seats and neither the BJP nor the Sena wins an absolute majority
Threats: need to make sure that does not end with a single digit number. Predictions in politics can go very wrong, but such a scenario will mean the game is looking down the end of the barrel.
PNC
Strengths: It boasts the most astute PNC leader. Powers maneuver Sharad Pawar are legendary and the party will have to wait for a decent kitty so you can keep him in power (no matter who the partner). PNC also boasts several forts in western and northern Maharashtra where there is the word 'anti-incumbency' in dictionaries
Weaknesses: This is not the best of times for the PNC; even the loyalists can not give better than a fourth. That many of the corruption charges against the government have targeted their leaders does not help.
Opportunities: That Congress, too, is at its weakest point gives the NCP a chance to prove that his older brother a `demand 'respectable seat sharing formula was not unreasonable.Will help you negotiate the best post-poll scenario.
Threats: The biggest threat comes from within. Defeating Chhagan Bhujbal May has dealt a blow to succession plan Ajit Pawar. Bhujbal has made his intentions clear by calling the chief ministerial candidate natural Sharad Pawar NCP.
BJP
Strengths: The BJP is the party to beat. The way everyone else has gone against sample is in the pole position. It has a new generation of leaders like Devendra Fadnavis, who have held senior positions and are not tainted by corruption charges. Being out of the office for 15 years, gives his demand within a degree of legitimacy. The LS result has instilled confidence in the table. Above all, it is the party that can say: "Mere Narendra Modi PaaS hai"
Weaknesses: Gopinath Munde's death has robbed the party of its highest state leader; others do not have an attractive pan-Maharashtra. The marriage of 15 years with the Sena has also led to atrophy of the organization in many constituencies. This can become a problem in the vote on the day
Opportunities: You have good reason to believe that the anti-incumbent voters, confused by the decline and waxing of the history of Sena-MNS, gravitate to it. It waits 15 years of Congress-NCP government - and the perception that corrupt ministers have had free reign despite the prime minister is clean - will be the top of the minds of voters in the voting booth.
Threats: Your former ally is his biggest threat. The Sena knows his weaknesses in each division and bitterness of divorce lingers (though after the survey may be a different story). There is another fundamental concern: Modi wave of summer 2014 can not be there to help both in autumn 2014.
