Maharashtra Assembly elections: BJP releases 2nd list, MLC Ramesh Karad to take on Congress’s Dhiraj Deshmukh in Latur Rural
BJP replaces two sitting MLAs, retains seven in second list of 22 candidates.
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In the first list released last Sunday, BJP had declared 99 candidates. The BJP, while retaining its seven sitting MLAs, has replaced two incumbents in the second list of 22 candidates released for the Assembly polls on Saturday.
In Gadchiroli Assembly constituency, the party has replaced sitting MLA Deorao Holi with Dr Milind Narote. In Washim, sitting MLA Shyam Khode has been replaced by Lakhan Malik.
However, the party has retained sitting MLAs Devyani Pharande (Nashik Central), Prakash Bharsakhle (Akot), Kumar Ailani (Ulhasnagar), Ravindra Patil (Pen), Bhimrao Tapkir (Khadakwasla), Sunil Kamble (Pune Cantonment) and Samadhan Autade (Pandharpur).
Two MLCs–Gopinath Padalkar and Ramesh Karad–have been fielded from Jat and Latur Rural respectively.
In Latur Rural, Ramesh Karad will contest against Congress heavyweight Dhiraj Deshmukh. He is the younger son of former chief minister late Vilasrao Deshmukh.
In the 2019 Assembly polls, Dhiraj Deshmukh had polled 1.35 lakh votes (67.64 pc). The second highest votes went to NOTA polling 27,500 (13.78 pc). In the last elections, the seat went to undivided Shiv Sena whose candidate Sachin Deshmukh came third with just 12,966 votes.
Another interesting candidate in the second list is Dhangar community leader Gopichand Padalkar who was nominated to the state legislative council in May 2020. The party has now fielded him from Jat constituency.
Last elections, Padalkar was fielded by BJP from Baramati Assembly constituency against undivided NCP’s veteran Ajit Pawar. While Ajit Pawar had polled 1.95 lakh votes (83.24 pc), Padalkar got 30,371 (12.97 pc) votes. Padalkar, who started his career with Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, was in the forefront demanding reservation for Dhangar community under Scheduled Tribe quota.
In the first list released last Sunday, BJP had declared 99 candidates. With today’s 22 candidates, it has announced a total of 121 candidates. The party is expected to contest 155 to 160 seats.
In Kasba Peth, the party has fielded Hemant Rasane, who lost to Congress’s Ravindra Dhangekar in the by-elections last year. The by-polls were necessitated following the passing away of sitting BJP MLA Mukta Tilak.
In the close contest, Rasane polled 62,394 votes (45.09pc), losing to Dhangekar who polled 73,309 votes (52.98 pc).
In Akola West, the BJP’s candidate is Vijay Agrawal. The sitting six-term MLA Govardhan Sharma died last year. He represented the Akola West constituency from 1995 to 2019.
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