BJP’s 4th list names candidates for Umred, Mira-Bhayandar; to contest 148 Maha seats
The BJP has announced its fourth list of candidates, including nominees for the Umred and Mira-Bhayandar constituencies, as the deadline for filing nominations for the Maharashtra Assembly elections on November 20 approaches.
With this latest list, the BJP will field candidates in 148 Assembly seats, leaving four seats for its allies—Yuva Swabhiman Party, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, Republican Party of India (Athawale), and Jan Suraiya Shakti Paksha. In total, the BJP and its allies will contest 152 seats.
The party has nominated Sudhir Parwe for the Umred SC seat and former mayor Narendra Mehta for the Mira-Bhayandar seat. Mehta had lost to Independent candidate Geeta Jain in the 2019 Assembly elections.
Negotiations between the BJP and Shiv Sena regarding the Mira-Bhayandar seat were contentious, with the BJP initially hesitant to concede the seat. Jain, who supported Eknath Shinde following his rebellion in June 2022, has already filed her nomination as an Independent.
In its four lists, the BJP has renominated most of its 103 sitting legislators but has denied tickets to a few based on adverse survey reports. Notably, former minister Prakash Mehta from Ghatkopar East did not receive a ticket again, as the party has opted for Corporator Parag Shah, who has been renominated.
Sumit Wankhede, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ former Personal Assistant, has been nominated for the Arvi constituency in Wardha district, while the sitting legislator Dadarao Keche from Arvi has been dropped.
In Borivali, sitting legislator Sunil Rane has also been denied a ticket, with Mumbai unit General Secretary Sanjay Upadhyay taking his place.
Archana Patil Chakurkar, daughter-in-law of former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil Chakurkar, will contest from Latur City against Congress candidate and former minister Amit Deshmukh. She joined the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
The party has renominated Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar and several ministers, including Devendra Fadnavis (Nagpur South West), Vijaykumar Gavit (Nandurbar-ST), Girish Mahajan (Jamner), and others.
Additionally, the BJP has renominated Devyani Pharande from Nashik Central, Prakash Bharsakale from Akot, and several others, while dropping sitting legislator Devraj Holi from the Naxal-affected Gadchiroli (ST) seat, where Dr. Milind Narode has been fielded. Shyam Khode has been nominated from Washim SC, replacing sitting legislator Lakhan Malik.
