NCP (SP) to field MLC Shashikant Shinde from Satara, bizman from Raver

Following deliberations for over a month, Pawar decided to finalise the name of Shinde, one of the aggressive leaders of the party.

Sixty-year-old Shinde has been the member of the Legislative Council since 2020 and stood with Sharad Pawar after the split in NCP despite most of the party leaders and legislators joining Ajit Pawar faction.

Opposition Nationalist Congress Party (SP) on Wednesday announced MLC Shashikant Shinde as its candidate from Satara and businessman Shriram Patil as its candidate from Raver Lok Sabha constituency. Whereas the Congress announced former minister Dr Shobha Bachhav as its candidate from Dhule and former MLA Dr Kalyan Kale from Jalna seat in Marathwada.

Satara in western Maharashtra was one of the strongholds of the united NCP. However, after the split in the party, Sharad Pawar-led NCP was unable to finalise its candidate. Sitting LS MP from NCP (SP), Shrinivas Patil, had already said he would not be contesting the election due to old age.

Following deliberations for over a month, Pawar decided to finalise the name of Shinde, one of the aggressive leaders of the party.

Shinde, a former MLA from Koregaon Assembly segment in Satara said, “I am happy that I have been entrusted with this responsibility. I will ensure that I emerge successful in this battle.” The ruling alliance is yet to announce its candidate from Satara. According to sources, BJP is likely to field Rajya Sabha MP Udayanraje Bhosle from the seat.

In Raver, NCP-SP has given ticket to businessman Shriram Patil who had joined the party last week. Patil will be facing sitting BJP MP Raksha Khadse, daughter-in-law of senior leader Eknath Khadse. Eknath Khadse, though presently in NCP-SP, has said he will soon be joining the BJP, his original party.

Patil said Khadse’s family has been dominating the political arena and he will ensure change and development in the region which his predecessors haven’t been able to.

Cong names candidates from Jalna, Dhule

Meanwhile, Congress candidate Dr Shobha Bachhav will take on former Union minister Dr Subhash Bhamre of BJP in Dhule constituency. The constituency includes three Assembly segments from Nashik district and Bachhav hails from Nashik.

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In Jalna, Dr Kalyan Kale will take on Union minister Raosaheb Danve, who has been winning the seat since 1999. Kale and Danve had fought against each other in 2009 when Danve won by few thousand votes.

Jalna seat includes part of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district and Kale hails from that area. He was also the Congress MLA.

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