Advertisement
In Maharashtra’s 48 Lok Sabha constituencies, the BJP has revealed its candidates for 20 seats, unveiling a roster that includes prominent figures like Nitin Gadkari and Piyush Goyal.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently unveiled its second list comprising 72 candidates for the impending Lok Sabha elections, with 20 candidates hailing from Maharashtra. Notable names in this lineup include Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Piyush Goyal, along with former state minister Pankaja Munde. Maharashtra holds significance with its 48 Lok Sabha seats, out of which the BJP has now finalized contenders for 20 seats.
The BJP in Maharashtra operates in alliance with Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP.
Renominated for the Nagpur seat, two-time Lok Sabha MP Nitin Gadkari leads the list, alongside commerce minister Piyush Goyal (Mumbai North) and Pankaja Munde (Beed), among eight fresh faces. Pankaja Munde replaced her sister Pritam Munde in Beed, a stronghold of their family.
Initially absent from the BJP’s first list, Gadkari’s nomination spurred an open offer from Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to contest as the opposition candidate.
Rajya Sabha member Piyush Goyal, whose mother Chandrakanta Goyal served as MLA from Mumbai for three terms, stands as a fresh face from Mumbai North, a traditionally secure BJP constituency.
State forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar (Chandrapur) emerged as another newcomer in the second list. Additionally, all Union ministers from Maharashtra retained their tickets.
The party introduced local leader Smita Wagh in place of Jalgaon Lok Sabha member Unmesh Patil and fielded Anup Dhotre instead of his father, sitting Akola MP Sanjay Dhotre.
Former mayor Murlidhar Mohol was nominated from Pune following the vacancy left by the passing of incumbent BJP MP Girish Bapat.
MLA Mihir Kotecha will represent Mumbai North-East, succeeding current MP Manoj Kotak.
As of now, the BJP has declared candidates for only two out of six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai, retaining three seats for its ally, the then undivided Shiv Sena, in the previous elections.
The candidate for Mumbai North Central, previously held by Poonam Mahajan, daughter of late Pramod Mahajan, remains undeclared.
In Wardha, the BJP renominated two-time MP Ramdas Tadas, and in Nagpur, Gadkari’s nomination led to celebratory scenes among BJP workers.
Former Pune mayor Mohol expressed gratitude to the party leadership for his nomination.
