The BJP, on Sunday, released its first list of 99 candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls, retaining 71 sitting MLAs while also introducing candidates with familial ties to prominent politicians. Among the notable figures included are Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar.
Other key figures in the list include ministers Girish Mahajan, Sudhir Mungantiwar, and Chandrakant Patil. Fadnavis will contest from his home constituency of Nagpur South West, while Narwekar is set to run from Colaba in south Mumbai. The list also features family members of influential regional politicians, such as Srijaya Chavan, daughter of former Congress leader Ashok Chavan, marking her electoral debut from the Bhokar constituency in Nanded district.
While Fadnavis will contest from Nagpur South West seat, Bawankule has been fielded from Kamthi.
The first list also included the names of Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan from Jamner seat, Sudhir Mungantiwar from Ballarpur, Sreejaya Ashok Chavan from Bhokar, Ashish Shelar from Vandre West, Mangal Prabhat Lodha from Malabar Hill, Rahul Narwekar from Colaba, Chhatrapati Shivendra Raje Bhosale from Satara.
Among the candidates, 13 are women, and the BJP has retained 71 MLAs while dropping three. The party has also prioritised urban areas in Mumbai, renominating 14 of its 16 sitting MLAs. Ashish Shelar, president of the Mumbai BJP, will run from the Vandre West seat, and Narayan Rane's son, Nitesh Rane, is set to contest from Kankavli.
Some constituencies will see family members of political leaders contesting; for instance, Sulbha Gaikwad, wife of jailed MLA Ganpat Gaikwad, will run from Kalyan East. Additionally, Pratibha Pachpute will replace her husband in Srigonda, while Chinchwad MLA Ashwini Jagtap's brother-in-law will take over her candidacy.
The announcement comes after a crucial meeting regarding the NDA alliance for Maharashtra assembly elections was held at Union Home Minister Amit Shah's residence on Friday. The meeting lasted until around 2 am and was attended by key figures including Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The three parties had previously reached a consensus on 240 seats, but discussions were ongoing for the remaining 48 seats where alignment had been challenging.
The elections for the 288-member assembly are scheduled for November 20. The BJP aims to contest around 150 seats while engaging in negotiations with its allies, including the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's NCP .
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