Mumbai: On October 24, 2024, the Congress party officially released its list of 48 candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, a day after MVA agreed on the 85-Formula. This announcement marks a significant step in the party’s strategy as it aims to regain ground in a state where it has faced considerable challenges in recent years.
The candidate list reflects the Congress’s commitment to balancing experience with fresh talent, featuring seasoned politicians alongside younger leaders who represent the aspirations of a new generation. It has retained 25 incumbent MLAs in the first list.
Also Read: NCP (SP) fields Jayant Patil in Islampur constituency
Among the highlights of the candidate list is the inclusion of prominent figures such as Nana Patole, the Maharashtra Congress President, who will contest from the Sakoli. His leadership is crucial for galvanizing support in a region that has seen fluctuating loyalties in previous elections. former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan from Karad South and Leader of Opposition in the outgoing Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar from Brahmapuri. Former MLAs Gopaldas Agarwal and Sunil Deshmukh got tickets from Gondia and Amravati, respectively. They switched to the BJP but returned to the Congress recently.
Also Read: Election Buzz: How Did Thackeray Jr’s Wealth Surge by Rs. 6 Crore in 5 Years?
“The problem of seat sharing has been resolved…We are going to contest the elections based on merit…In Maharashtra, today, after seat sharing, we are confident that we will cross 200 (seats)…This ‘choryuti’ (Mahayuti) has ruined the state. We will dethrone them…The public has also made up their minds to dethrone them,” Vijay Wadettiwar told ANI on Thursday.
The release of the candidate list comes out a day after MVA (Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi) coalition announced its seat-sharing Formula. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut later said there was a consensus on 270 of the 288 seats between the MVA partners. The coalition’s strategy is centered on a unified campaign that emphasizes cooperative governance and shared values among its partners, including the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP.
