BJP announces 99 candidates for Maharashtra polls; Fadnavis to contest from Nagpur South West
On Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its first list of 99 candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will contest from his traditional seat in Nagpur South West. The list also features Mumbai BJP president Ashish Selar, who will be contesting from the Vandre West constituency, and Nitesh Rane, son of senior BJP leader Narayan Rane, from the Kankavli seat, which he currently represents in the assembly.
Other notable names include Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, fielded from Kamthi, former state president Chandrakant Patil from Kothrud, and Sreejaya Chavan, daughter of former chief minister Ashok Chavan, contesting from Bhokar.
The BJP aims to contest around 150 seats in Maharashtra but is currently engaged in negotiations over seat-sharing with its allies, the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP.