Maharashtra Polls: The Maharashtra Assembly election season is in full swing, and in this context, the BJP has released its third list of candidates today. This list includes the names of 25 candidates for the assembly seats.
Additionally, the BJP has also announced its candidate for a by-election on one Lok Sabha seat. BJP has selected Santuk Marotrao Hambarde for the Nanded Lok Sabha by-election.
According to the list, BJP has fielded Sudhakar Kohale from the Nagpur-West assembly seat and Milind Pandurang Mane from the Nagpur-North seat.
Furthermore, Sumit Wankhede, who has previously served as the PA to Devendra Fadnavis, has been given a ticket from Arvi.
Previously, the party had declared 99 candidates in its first list and 22 candidates in its second list. With 25 more names added in the third list, BJP has now announced a total of 146 candidates.
In the first list, BJP nominated Sreejaya Ashokrao Chavan, daughter of Ashok Chavan, from the Bhokar Assembly seat. Additionally, most of the current legislators in Mumbai received tickets again.
The party's Maharashtra unit president, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, has been given a ticket for the Kamthi seat, while State Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar will contest from Ballarpur.
In addition, the BJP has announced its candidate for the by-election in Maharashtra’s Nanded Lok Sabha seat. The party has named Santuk Marotrao Hambarde as its candidate for Nanded.
Voting for the Nanded seat will also take place on November 20, with the results being declared alongside the Maharashtra Assembly election outcomes.
The Nanded Lok Sabha seat became vacant following the passing of Congress leader Vasantrao Balwantrao Chavan, prompting this by-election.
Voting for Maharashtra's 288 assembly seats will take place in a single phase on November 20. The results will be announced on November 23.
Currently, the state is governed by the Mahayuti alliance, led by Eknath Shinde of the Shiv Sena. This coalition includes the Shiv Sena, BJP, and the NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
On the other side, the opposition alliance is known as the MVA, which comprises the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction).
In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP fielded 165 candidates and emerged as the largest party by winning 105 seats.