The BJP’s first list of candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections has caused quite a stir in the party. Several sitting MLAs and ticket aspirants found their names missing from the first list and made a beeline for Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis’s home in Mumbai. The BJP released its first list of 99 candidates on October 20.
The first list has seemingly widened the rift in the Mahayuti further, while “disappointed” BJP leaders are keeping their options open.
Among those visiting was Devyani Pharande, the sitting MLA from Nashik Central. Speculation is rife that the party might replace her with a new candidate this time, as four out of five BJP MLAs from Nashik district have been named in the first list, but her name was missing. Following this omission, Pharande, accompanied by several city council members and supporters, sought a meeting with Fadnavis.
State Minister and senior BJP leader Girish Mahajan addressed concerns from sitting MLAs whose names did not appear in the first list, saying, “Many sitting MLAs might be thinking that the party won’t give them tickets this time. But that is not the case.” He said that the BJP is reviewing the situation in different constituencies and will analyze the conditions before releasing the next list.
The BJP’s first list includes names like Bharati Lavekar from Versova, Sunil Rane from Borivali, and Parag Shah from Ghatkopar East. Notably, BJP MLA Rahul Kul has again been fielded from the Daund constituency, a move that has drawn objections from the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) led by Ajit Pawar as the NCP enjoys significant support in this constituency.
In the 2019 elections, Rahul Kul won by a narrow margin of just 700 votes in Daund. Commenting on the BJP’s decision, the NCP voiced its disappointment. NCP spokesperson Vaishali Nagawade stated that the decision to allocate the ticket should have been made after consulting local leaders. Vaishali Nagawade previously contested against Rahul Kul but was defeated.
In another development, BJP leader Bal Mane has expressed disappointment over the Ratnagiri-Sangameshwar assembly seat being given to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde‘s faction of Shiv Sena. Uday Samant, a close associate of Shinde and a state minister, has been fielded from this seat.
Bal Mane said, “I have appealed to the people to share their views on whether they want a change in this constituency. I am waiting for their feedback, and based on that, I will decide my next course of action.” He claimed that several individuals have already expressed a desire for change in this assembly constituency.
