The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced its first list of 99 candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, set to take place on November 20. The announcement follows a meeting held at Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s residence to strategize for the polls.
Among the prominent candidates, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will contest from Nagpur South West. State BJP president Chandrashekhar Krishnarao Bawankule is set to run from the Kamthi seat. Other notable candidates include:
- Girish Mahajan from Jamner
- 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
Additionally, Suresh Damu Bhole will contest from Jalgaon City, Atul Save from Aurangabad East, Sanjay Mukund Kalkar from Thane, and Vinod Shelar from Malad West.
Seat-Sharing Talks and Alliance Preparations
As election day approaches, both the ruling Mahayuti alliance—which includes the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led NCP—and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress, are ramping up their preparations, including seat-sharing discussions.
Deputy CM Fadnavis confirmed that seat-sharing talks within the Mahayuti alliance are nearing completion, stating, “We cleared the problematic seats by having a positive discussion.” Chief Minister Eknath Shinde echoed this sentiment, noting that discussions on seat-sharing are in the final phase.
Sources indicate that the seat-sharing arrangement among the BJP, Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP is almost finalized, with the Shinde faction expected to contest 85-90 seats, the NCP around 50, and the BJP contesting the remainder of the 288 available seats.
In the recent parliamentary elections, the opposition MVA outperformed the BJP, winning 30 out of Maharashtra’s 48 seats, while the BJP’s tally fell from 23 to 9.
Maharashtra will vote on November 20, with results to be announced on November 23.
