By Tejas Navale
Pune, October 23, 2024: Three days after the BJP announced its first list of 99 candidates and a day after the Shiv Sena announced its candidates, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), entered the electoral fray by announcing its first list of 38 candidates today. NCP state president Sunil Tatkare, while addressing a press conference, informed that the further list of candidates could be released either late tonight or tomorrow.
In the first list, the NCP has largely stuck to its strategy of repeating incumbent candidates, similar to the approach taken by the BJP and Shiv Sena.
Ajit Pawar’s Candidature from Baramati Confirmed
One of the most significant revelations in the list is the confirmation of NCP national president and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s candidature from the Baramati assembly seat. Speculation had swirled for months regarding his candidacy, particularly after his wife, Sunetra Pawar, lost the Lok Sabha seat to Supriya Sule. Ajit Pawar had also kept his intentions unclear, but with this announcement, his candidacy is now confirmed. He is expected to face a challenge from his nephew Yugendra Pawar, who is preparing to contest against him from the NCP (SP) party.
NCP Retains Loyalists and Ministers
The NCP has largely retained its sitting MLAs and ministers in this list. Notable figures include Dilip Walse Patil from Ambegaon, Chhagan Bhujbal from Yeola, Hasan Mushrif from Kagal, Aditi Tatkare from Shrivardhan, and Dhananjay Munde from Parli.
Further, the NCP has also given tickets to its many loyalists from Pune, including Anna Bansode from Pimpri, Sunil Shelke from Maval, Chetan Tupe from Hadapsar, Dattatray Bharne from Indapur, Atul Benke from Junnar, and so on. Notably, the NCP has not announced the party ticket of Sunil Tingre from the Vadgaon Sheri assembly, where he is the sitting MLA, raising suspense over this assembly. From this assembly, the BJP’s Jagdish Mulik is also interested, and it has not yet been cleared who will contest this seat from Mahayuti.
Newcomers and Notable Omissions
The NCP in its party has also given tickets to newcomers. The NCP has announced the ticket of Hiraman Khoskar from Igatpuri constituency and Sulbha Khodke from Amravati, who have recently joined the party from the Congress. Notably, the NCP has not announced the ticket of Zeeshan Siddique, who is also expected to switch over from the Congress to the NCP.
Interestingly, former minister Nawab Malik and his daughter Sana Malik have not been named on the list. Sources indicate that the BJP’s opposition to Malik may have influenced the party decision to withhold their tickets.
