In a significant political move, the Shiv Sena released its first list of 45 candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections slated for November 20. The list, made public late Tuesday night, includes the renomination of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde from the Kopri-Panchpakhadi constituency in Thane city. Along with Shinde, more than half a dozen key Cabinet members have been fielded from their respective constituencies.
This announcement comes as part of the ruling party's strategy to retain its influence, with most of the candidates being MLAs who had supported Shinde during his pivotal revolt against then-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022. The revolt, which resulted in a major political shift, continues to shape the party?s future, with Shinde looking to retain his stronghold in Kopri-Panchpakhadi.
Prominent names on the list include senior ministers like Gulabrao Patil (Jalgaon Rural), Deepak Kesarkar (Sawantwadi), Abdul Sattar (Sillod), and Shamburaj Desai (Patan). These ministers, each representing vital constituencies across the state, will once again stand for re-election, aiming to retain their influence within the government.
The Shiv Sena?s list also includes Dada Bhuse, another cabinet minister, who will contest from the Malegaon Outer constituency in Nashik district. Meanwhile, other ministers Uday Samant and Tanaji Sawant have been fielded from Ratnagiri and Paranda, respectively, signaling the party?s intent to maintain a firm grip over these key regions.
Interestingly, the party has also extended its political reach by nominating family members of prominent leaders. Kiran Samant, brother of Uday Samant, will contest from Rajapur, while Suhas Babar, son of the late MLA Anil Babar, has been selected for the Khanapur constituency in Sangli district. This generational shift indicates the party's reliance on established political legacies to bolster its position in critical constituencies.
In Mumbai, Manisha Waikar, wife of Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Waikar, has been chosen to contest from Jogeshwari (East), while Abhijit Adsul, son of former Union Minister Anand Adsul, will run for the Daryapur seat in Amravati district. The list further includes Vilas Bhumre, son of MP Sandipan Bhumre, contesting from Paithan, solidifying the party?s strategy of leveraging familial ties.
With this announcement, the Shiv Sena becomes the second major political party to release its list of candidates, following the BJP, which had unveiled a list of 99 candidates just days earlier. The ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the NCP, is yet to finalize its seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming elections to the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.
As the electoral race heats up, all eyes will be on how these nominations impact the political landscape of Maharashtra, with key players like Eknath Shinde aiming to consolidate their hold on power amidst a fiercely competitive environment.
