Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | BJP adopts safe path as it retains 71 MLAs in first list of 99 candidates

Mumbai: With Maharashtra’s political situation fluid, the BJP adopted a safe plan by retaining most of the candidates in the first list focusing clearly on winnability and accommodating second and third generation leaders of political families.

In the first list of 99 candidates, 13 are women - which is more than 10 per cent.

Seventy-one sitting MLAs have been retained - and these seats are considered safe seats if one looks at the results of 2014 and 2019, when BJP won 122 and 105 seats, respectively.

The BJP clearly does not want to take any risk in the wake of the debacle in the Lok Sabha polls and the burning Maratha vs OBC reservation issue.

The BJP’s heavyweights - Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state unit President Chandrashekhar Bawankule and their key aides and associates are part of the list.

Of the 288 seats, the BJP is planning to contest 150 to 155 seats leaving the rest for allies Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP and smaller constituents.

Fadnavis, a five-time MLA, would contest from Nagpur South West while Bawankule, who is currently a MLC, would contest the Kamtee seat. Last time, Bawankule, a veteran OBC leader, was denied a ticket.

Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who has presided over hearings of disqualification petitions vis-a-vis the two splits Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena (UBT) and Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Sharad Pawar-headed NCP (SP), would contest from Colaba.

Several second-generation and third-generation leaders figure in the first list.

Rajya Sabha MP and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan’s daughter Shreejaya Chavan would contest the family seat of Bhokar. Her grandfather late Shankarrao Chavan too was a Chief Minister and former Union Home Minister.

Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg MP and former Chief Minister Narayan Rane’s son has been renominated from Kankavli.

Late Congress Chief Minister Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar’s grandson Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar has been given ticket from Nilanga.

Former Union Minister Raosaheb Danve’s Santosh Danve will fight from Bhokardan. BJP Mumbai President Ashish Shelar has been renominated from Vandre West in Mumbai while his brother Vinod Shelar is a new face from Malad West.

State ministers Sudhir Mungantiwar and Girish Mahajan have been renominated from Ballarpur and Jamner, respectively.

Senior leader and minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha will contest the elite Malabar Hill seat, which houses the ministerial bungalows and who’s who of India.

Veteran politician Vijaykumar Gavit would contest the Nandurbar (ST) seat.

Chhatrapati Shivendra Raje Bhosale, a descendent from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been renominated from Satara. He is the cousin of Satara MP Shrimant Chhatrapati Udayan Raje Bhosale and son of late MLA Chhatrapati Abhaysinh Raje Bhosale.

Another royal family member Jaykumar Rawal has been renominated from the Sindhkheda seat.

From Tuljapur, Ranajagjitsinha Patil has been renominated. He is son of Padmasinh Patil, the brother of NCP Rajya Sabha member Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar.

Former minister and MLC Prof Ram Shinde, would contest from Karjat-Jamkhed, the seat that he lost last time to Rohit Pawar, the grand-nephew of Sharad Pawar.

Three MLAs who were dropped are Ashwini Jagtap from Chinchwad, Ganpat Gaikwad from Kalyan East and Babanrao Pachpute from Shrigonda. Jagtap’s brother-in-law Shankar Jagtap has been given a ticket. Gaikwad, who is in jail in a firing case, has been replaced by his wife Sulabha Gaikwad. Pachpute’s wife Pratibha Pachpute would be contesting.

Meanwhile, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has accused the BJP of pursuing dynasty politics. "The BJP released its first list of dynastic candidates for the forthcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. Those who say that BJP does not believe in dynastic politics will be embarrassed after reading the list," said Clyde Crasto, NCP (SP) national spokesperson.

Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

Subscribe and follow DH on Whatsapp, X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram to never miss out on anything.