Mumbai, October 23: The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT)-Nationalist Congress Party (SP) finalised their respective candidates for 85 seats each -- totalling 255 -- after hectic deliberations, here on Wednesday.

Simultaneously, the Shiv Sena (UBT) released its first list of 65 nominees for the November 20 Assembly elections as it welcomed leaders from different parties to its fold during the day. Speaking to media persons, state Congress President Nana Patole, state NCP (SP) President Jayant R. Patil and Shiv Sena’s (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that they have finalised 85 seats each and candidates. Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Aaditya Thackeray To Contest From Worli As Shiv Sena (UBT) Releases 1st List of 65 Candidates; Kedar Dighe To Challenge CM Eknath Shinde From Kopri-Pachpakhadi Constituency, Check Full List Here.

They said that agreement has been reached on 270 of the total 288 Assembly seats and the remaining 18 shall be finalised in a day or so -- belying earlier rumours floating in political circles. Besides the seats for the three main allies, the MVA shall also allocate seats to other allies like the Samajwadi Party, Peasants & Workers Party, CPI, CPI(M), and other smaller parties. “Everything is proceeding smoothly… There is no credence to the speculation that ‘this will happen or that will not happen’. All the MVA allies are going to contest the elections together,” declared Raut, as Patole and Patil nodded their consent.

Nevertheless, the allies, particularly Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) are likely to push hard to increase their share by almost three figures which could cause heart-burns among the smaller partners, and the final seat-share figures are likely to be announced on Thursday, in time for the last date for filing nominations (October 29). MVA Seat-Sharing Formula for Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar’s NCP-SP To Contest 85 Seats Each (Watch Video).

Taking the lead, Shiv Sena (UBT) announced its first list of 65 candidates comprising a mix of party loyalists, a few sitting MLAs, many new faces, youth and women, and several newcomers from other parties. In Thane’s Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency, Shiv Sena (UBT) has fielded Kedar Dighe who will lock horns with ruling Shiv Sena’s Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, which would be one of the top key contests in the state.

Other important candidates are – former Minister Aditya Thackeray (Worli) and Mahesh Sawant (Mahim) who will be pitted against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s Youth President Amit (Raj) Thackeray, and Varun Sardesai (Bandra East). Some more prominent nominees are -- Konkan region’s Sanjay Kadam (Dapoli), Bhaskar Jadhav (Guhagar), Rajan Salvi (Rajapur), Vaibhav Naik (Kudal), Rajan Teli (Sawantwadi), Snehal Jagtap (Mahad), Rajan Vichare (Thane), Satyajeet A. Patil (Shahuwadi).

In Mumbai, the nominees are -- Rutuja Latke (Andheri East), Sanjay Potnis (Kalina), Sunil Prabhu (Dindoshi) and Sameer Desai (Goregaon), as per a party statement. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray was on his feet all day tying the ‘Shiv Bandhan’ to welcoming new entrants from different parties to his party fold ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. They included -- Congress Buldhana Secretary Advocate Jaishree Shelke, ruling ally Nationalist Congress Party’s Vice-President Apoorva Hire, Anuradha Nagwade, and Rajendra Nagwade, Ratnagiri Bharatiya Janata Party leader Bal Yashwant Mane, and noted leader from Kolhapur K. P. Patil,

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 23, 2024 08:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).