The BJP has released a list of 146 candidates for the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The BJP has given opportunity to many candidates from abroad, which has created a situation of discontent and rebellion among some workers. However, 16 BJP leaders have filed nominations joining voters from the Mahayuti alliance, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and NCP (Ajit faction).
Therefore, 12 BJP leaders will now contest the elections from Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, while 4 BJP leaders will contest from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. In fact, in the assembly seats where there are great chances of victory for Mahayuti, these seats have been given to the group of Shinde or Ajit Pawar, just before filing the nomination, these candidates have joined the respective party, so that their candidacy can be confirmed. .
Nilesh Rane, son of BJP leader and former Union minister Narayan Rane, has been nominated by the Shiv Sena to contest the Kudal-Malvan elections. BJP leader and former Union Minister Raosaheb Danve’s daughter Sanjana Jadhav will also contest from the Kannada Assembly constituency on the Shiv Sena ticket.
Former BJP leader Rajendra Gavit is contesting from Palghar assembly constituency on behalf of Shiv Sena. Vilas Tare decided to contest the Boisar elections and Bhiwandi East BJP leader Santosh Shetty joined Shiv Sena and filed his nomination. Senior Andheri BJP leader Murji Patel also joined Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena just before the elections and will contest from Andheri East assembly constituency. Shiv Sena has also fielded BJP’s Ajit Pingle to contest the Dharashiv elections.
Whereas, former MP Sujay Vikhe Patil was all set to contest from Sangamner constituency, but that seat went to Shiv Sena, so BJP’s Amol Khatal got the Shiv Sena ticket.
There was speculation about Shaina NC that BJP would field her from Worli, but the Shinde faction gave her ticket from the Mumbadevi seat. On the other hand, Digvijay Bagal, who joined the BJP 6 months ago, filed his nomination from the Karmala seat after being allotted to the Shiv Sena within the Mahayuti alliance. Vitthal Langhe from Nevasa and Baliram Shirsagar from Balapur, both former BJP members, also got tickets from the Shinde faction.
Apart from this, the NCP has given tickets to former minister Rajkumar Badole, former MP Pratap Patil Chikhalikar, former MP Sanjaykaka Patil and Nishikant Patil, who joined the Ajit faction from the BJP.
