Maharashtra Assembly polls: BJP releases first list of 99 candidates — Check who is contesting from which seat

Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: The Bharatiya Janata Party released its first list of candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections on Sunday afternoon.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be contesting the polls from his traditional Nagpur South West constituency while state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule has been fielded from Kamthi.

In the first list, the saffron party has also announced the candidature of former state president Chandrakant Patil from Kothrud and former chief minister Ashok Chavan's daughter Sreejaya Chavan from Bhokar.

Apart from them, minister Girish Mahajan has been fielded from Jamner, minister Sudhir Mungantiwar from Ballarpur, Ashish Shelar from Bandra West, Mangal Prabhat Lodha from Malabar Hill, Rahul Narwekar from Colaba and Chhatrapati Shivendra Raje Bhosale from Satara.

The saffron party is looking to contest around 150 seats in the state as part of the Mahayuti grouping (comprising the Shiv Sena and NCP). It, however, remains involved in tough bargaining with its allies over certain seats.

Elections for the 288 seat Maharashtra Assembly will be held in a single phase on November 20. Votes will be counted later that week on November 23.

According to reports quoting sources, the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP combine had finalised a seat-sharing agreement following talks in Delhi this week. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis also indicated earlier on Sunday that negotiations had reached the ‘final stage’.

"Yesterday we cleared the problematic seats by having a positive discussion. We will clear the few remaining seats in the next two days, we have decided that the cleared seats should be announced by that party at their convenience. In the system of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the processes like the Election Committee, and Parliamentary Board have almost come to an end. Our first list can come anytime," he said.

According to reports quoting sources, the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP combine had finalised a seat-sharing agreement following talks in Delhi this week. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis also indicated earlier on Sunday that negotiations had reached the ‘final stage’.

"Yesterday we cleared the problematic seats by having a positive discussion. We will clear the few remaining seats in the next two days, we have decided that the cleared seats should be announced by that party at their convenience. In the system of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the processes like the Election Committee, and Parliamentary Board have almost come to an end. Our first list can come anytime," he said.|#+|

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also said that a meeting was held with Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday. 

"Mahayuti's seat-sharing was discussed and positive discussions were held. The discussions are in the final phase. The seat sharing will be finalised soon and we will give you the good news," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)