The Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena announced its first list of 45 candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections-2024 late Tuesday night. This will be the first election the party faces under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is set to contest from the Kopri Pachpakhadi constituency. Minister Uday Samant has also been given a ticket, representing the Ratnagiri seat.
One of the key contests in these elections will take place in Mahim, where the Shiv Sena has fielded Sadanand Shankar Sarwankar. He will go head-to-head with Amit Thackeray, son of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, making this a high-profile battle.
Mahayuti Alliance Candidate Announcements
The Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has now revealed 144 candidates. Of these, the BJP has announced 99 candidates, while 45 come from the Shiv Sena faction led by Shinde.
On October 20, the BJP released its first list of 99 candidates. In this, 79 sitting MLAs have been re-nominated, showing the party’s confidence in its incumbents. Additionally, all ten ministers in the current government, including Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, will contest the upcoming elections.
Key BJP Candidates and Election Dates
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will contest from Nagpur South-West, while Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule has been fielded in the Kamathi constituency. These selections point to the BJP’s strategy of reinforcing key leaders in important constituencies.
The elections in Maharashtra are scheduled for November 20, with the results to be declared on November 23. The current term of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly is set to expire on November 26, 2024.
Challenges Ahead for the Mahayuti Alliance
The Mahayuti government, which currently rules Maharashtra, is a coalition of Shiv Sena, BJP, and the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP. Managing voter fatigue, anti-incumbency sentiment, and the division of votes among the six major political parties will pose significant challenges for the alliance. With several factions competing, this election could be a test of the alliance's unity and effectiveness in retaining power.
Shinde's First Election as Leader
This election marks the first time Eknath Shinde will lead the Shiv Sena faction in a state assembly election. Shinde rose to the position of Chief Minister in June 2022 after rebelling against the then Uddhav Thackeray-led government and aligning with the BJP. His leadership will be under scrutiny as the party aims to solidify its presence in Maharashtra politics.
Notable Changes in Candidate Lineup
Several notable changes in the candidate lineup have also been observed. In the Erandol constituency of Jalgaon, sitting MLA Chimanrao Patil has been replaced by Amol Chimanrao Patil. Meanwhile, in the Dariyapur assembly seat of Amravati, Abhijit Adsul has been selected as the candidate. Abhijit is the son of former Shiv Sena MP Anandrao Adsul. Earlier, there had been speculation that BJP’s Navneet Rana would contest from Dariyapur, but that has not come to pass.
This shuffle indicates a strategic attempt by the Mahayuti alliance to balance experience with fresh faces as they navigate a complex political landscape ahead of the election.