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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took a significant step towards the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections by releasing its second list of 22 candidates on Saturday. However, the announcement left some key seats in Mumbai shrouded in uncertainty, particularly in Borivli, Ghatkopar East, and Versova. These seats are considered crucial for the BJP, and the party is carefully weighing its options for these constituencies.
The first list of 99 candidates, released earlier, included the names of most sitting MLAs. The second list adds to this, bringing the total number of announced candidates to 121. Among the newly announced candidates are MLC and Dhangar leader Gopichand Padalkar and Satyajit Deshmukh, who joined the BJP in 2019 after leaving the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Deshmukh's father was a prominent figure in the political landscape as the former chairman of the legislative council.
The strategic approach towards the Borivli and Ghatkopar East assembly seats is particularly noteworthy. These constituencies are widely viewed as BJP strongholds, and the party is exploring the possibility of replacing its current MLAs with other senior politicians from within its ranks. This move suggests a desire to field strong contenders and potentially capitalize on the popularity of these seasoned leaders.
The Versova seat presents a different scenario. The BJP is yet to make a definitive decision regarding its candidate for this constituency. They are considering whether to support the incumbent MLA or introduce a new face in the race. The party's alliance partner, the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, is reported to have expressed interest in the Versova seat, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
The second list also includes candidates for several seats previously contested by the undivided Shiv Sena in alliance with the BJP in the 2019 elections. This shift in the political landscape is evident in the nomination of Krishnalal Sahare from Brahmapuri, Karan Deotale from Warora, Ramesh Karad from Latur Rural, and Devendra Kothe from Solapur city. These seats are now being contested by BJP candidates.
In addition, the BJP has nominated candidates for eight seats where they were unsuccessful in the 2019 election. These include Kewalram Kale from Melghat, Deorao Bhongle from Rajura, Harishchandra Bhoye from Vikramgad, Samadhan Autade from Pandharpur, Satyajit Deshmukh from Shirala, Gopichand Padalkar from Jat, Ram Bhadane from Dhule rural, and Chainsukh Mandanlal Sancheti from Malkapur. It is worth noting that some of these candidates previously contested the assembly elections on the party ticket but did not win. The BJP's strategic choices in these constituencies reflect their efforts to strengthen their position in the upcoming polls.
The delay in announcing candidates for the crucial seats in Mumbai and the strategic shifts in other constituencies demonstrate the BJP's focus on securing a strong victory in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. With the party's alliance partner, the Shiv Sena, having a significant role to play in the elections, the political landscape in Maharashtra remains dynamic and unpredictable.
Source: BJP: BJP Releases 2nd Candidate List, Borivli, Ghatkopar East, Versova Seats Still in Limbo