Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has unveiled the party initial list of 17 candidates for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with Anil Desai securing a prominent seat in Mumbai South Central. The announcement marks the party intent to contest a total of 22 seats, with the remaining candidates set to be revealed shortly.
Raut disclosed that 11 of the candidates were previously announced by party chief Uddhav Thackeray during his recent visits to respective Lok Sabha constituencies. Notably, all five sitting MPs have been renominated, including Arvind Sawant for Mumbai South, Sanjay Patil for Mumbai North East, and Amol Kirtikar for Mumbai North West.
Other incumbent MPs such as Rajan Vichare from Thane and Vinayak Raut from Ratnagiri Sindhudurg have also been retained. Additionally, the party has nominated former MP Chandrakant Khaire to contest from Aurangabad.
A highlight of the announcement is the selection of wrestler Chandrahar Patil as the candidate for Sangli, a seat that was previously contested by the Congress, a partner in the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance.
The unveiling of candidates comes amid anticipation regarding the selection for the Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency, currently represented by MP Shrikant Shinde, son of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The decision to field Chandrakant Khaire has added intrigue, particularly regarding the aspirations of Ambadas Danve, the leader of the Opposition in the legislative council.
Shiv Sena’s participation in the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, alongside the Congress and NCP, underscores the significance of its candidate selections in shaping the political landscape of Maharashtra. With the Lok Sabha elections scheduled in five phases starting from April 19, the announcement sets the stage for an intense electoral contest in the state.
GrabGossip – your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.
