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The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Ajit Pawar, has officially announced its initial slate of 38 candidates for the upcoming 2024 Assembly election in Maharashtra. This move comes as the state gears up for a crucial electoral battle, with the ruling Mahayuti alliance, consisting of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP, seeking to retain power.
The first list from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP features prominent figures, including Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar himself, who has been nominated from the Pune constituency of Baramati. Other notable candidates include state ministers who sided with Ajit Pawar when he split from the Sharad Pawar camp and joined the ruling alliance.
The list includes 26 incumbent MLAs, demonstrating the party's commitment to retaining its existing representation in the Assembly. Among the notable names in the list are Sulbha Khodke from Amravati and Hiraman Khoskar from Igatpuri, both of whom recently transitioned from the Congress to the NCP.
The NCP has also strategically placed key figures in its first list, including Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly Narhari Zirwal, who will contest from Dindori; State Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, nominated from Yeola; and former minister Rajkumar Badole, previously affiliated with the BJP, who will contest from Arjuni-Morgaon.
Further solidifying the party's strategy, the NCP has fielded Bharat Gavit, the son of the late Congress leader Manikrao Gavit, from Navapur. This move signifies the party's efforts to attract young leaders and potential future leaders to its fold.
The NCP's first list follows the announcement of candidates by its allies, the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The BJP has declared 99 candidates, while the Shiv Sena has announced 45.
While the three political parties are all part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, they are yet to finalize their seat-sharing agreement for the 2024 Assembly election. The election is scheduled to be held on November 20, 2024, in a single phase, with the results to be declared on November 23, 2024.
In total, the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP have now collectively announced 182 candidates, aiming to secure a majority in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly. With the election approaching, political parties continue to strategize and finalize their candidate lists in the hope of securing victory in the crucial upcoming state elections.
Source: Maharashtra election 2024: First list of Ajit Pawar-led NCP candidates