Mumbai: The Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has unveiled its initial list of 45 candidates for the upcoming state assembly elections scheduled for November 20. Shinde will contest from the Kopri-Panchpakhadi in Thane, a constituency he has represented multiple times. The move reflects an effort to secure a strong mandate following his 2022 rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership.
जय महाराष्ट्र
हिंदुहृदयसम्राट वंदनीय शिवसेनाप्रमुख बाळासाहेब ठाकरे आणि वंदनीय धर्मवीर आनंद दिघे साहेबांच्या आशीर्वादाने महाराष्ट्र विधानसभा निवडणूक – २०२४ साठी शिवसेना पक्षाच्या अधिकृत उमेदवारांची यादी जाहीर करण्यात येत आहे.
सर्व उमेदवारांना विजयी शुभेच्छा.@Shivsenaofc… pic.twitter.com/0rBkOkMTMU— Eknath Shinde – एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) October 22, 2024
In a post shared on X, the incumbent CM wrote- “The list of official candidates of Shiv Sena Party for Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 is being announced with the blessings of ‘Hindu hriday Samraat’ honourable Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray and honorable Dharmaveer Anand Dighe Saheb. Good luck to all the candidates.”
Prominent names in the candidate list include several sitting ministers and loyalists who supported Shinde during the political split. Key candidates include Gulabrao Patil, Deepak Kesarkar, Uday Samant, and Sanjay Shirsat, all of whom played a pivotal role in the defection that toppled the MVA government and installed the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in power.
Also Read:- Mahayuti and MVA Finalize Seat Sharing in Maharashtra
The BJP has already announced 99 candidates, and discussions are ongoing to iron out the remaining seat-sharing details with other allies, including the faction led by Ajit Pawar.
The elections will be a litmus test for Shinde’s leadership as he seeks to solidify his faction’s legitimacy following the political realignment in 2022.
The coming days will reveal further details as additional candidates are announced and the final campaign strategies unfold.
