With the Maharashtra Assembly elections just around the corner, political parties are finalizing their candidate lineups. On Saturday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its second list of candidates, which includes 22 names for critical constituencies like Akola West, Dhule Rural, Latur Rural, Washim, Gadchiroli, Nashik Central, and Pen, along with three seats in Pune.
In a bold move, BJP became the first major party in Maharashtra to declare its candidates for the upcoming polls. The first list, previously released, featured 99 names, highlighting prominent leaders and marking the party’s strong preparatory stance.
Key Names in the BJP’s Second List
From the second list released, several key candidates have drawn attention. These include:
- Hemant Rasane from Pune’s Kasaba Peth
- Sunil Kamble from Pune Cantonment
- Bhimrao Tapkir from Khadakwasla
- Devyani Pharande from Nashik Central
- Ravindra Patil from Pen
- Ramesh Karad from Latur Rural
- Satyajit Deshmukh from Shirala
- Gopichand Padalkar from Jat
These selections indicate the party’s strategy to strengthen its position in both urban and rural constituencies.
BJP’s First List: Leading Names at the Forefront
In the first list of 99 candidates, BJP had secured all key leaders, a move underscoring the importance of established leadership in the polls. This list included Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and prominent ministers like Sudhir Mungantiwar, Girish Mahajan, Ashish Shelar, and Rahul Narwekar.
As all parties continue to unveil their candidates, the BJP’s approach signals its intent to maintain strong representation across Maharashtra, particularly by balancing seasoned politicians and influential new names. The finalization of candidate lists from other parties is expected soon, setting the stage for an intense electoral battle in Maharashtra.