Maharashtra Elections 2024: The Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has released its first list of 38 candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. Among those named is Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who will contest the Baramati seat in Pune district. This announcement follows the earlier release of the candidate list by the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).Key candidates announcedThe NCP has renominated 26 sitting MLAs, including several ministers who supported Ajit Pawar when he allied with the ruling coalition. Notably, the list includes sitting legislators Sulbha Khodke (Amravati) and Hiraman Khoskar (Igatpuri), both of whom recently defected from the Congress party.#MaharashtraElection2024 | NCP releases its first list of 38 candidates.Deputy CM and party chief Ajit Pawar to contest from Baramati, Chhagan Bhujbal from Yeola, Dilip Walse Patil from Ambegaon. pic.twitter.com/yjkRL3KLZG— ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2024Additionally, Bharat Gavit, the son of former Congress veteran Manikrao Gavit, has been selected to run for the Navapur seat. Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly, Narhari Zirwal, will contest from Dindori. Prominent state cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal has been chosen for the Yeola constituency, while former BJP minister Rajkumar Badole will contest from Arjuni-Morgaon.Election details and political alliancesMaharashtra will go to the polls on November 20 in a single-phase election to elect members for the 288-seat state assembly, with the results expected to be declared on November 23.The election will see a fierce battle between the ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, and Ajit Pawars NCP, against the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The MVA includes the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and the Congress party.
