Shiv Sena releases first list of candidates
AB forms are the documents submitted by political parties sponsoring their candidate to the Election Commission.
Mumbai: With just three days remaining for filing nomination papers for the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha polls, Shiv Sena on Tuesday reportedly finali-sed its first list of 70 candidates for 124 seats. Aaditya Thackeray, the son of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, will be debuting in the elections and will be contesting from Worli Assembly seat.
Aaditya was given AB forms from Uddhav paving the way for him to contest from Worli. AB forms are the documents submitted by political parties sponsoring their candidate to the Election Commission.
Barring few exceptions, the party has decided to re-nominate majority of sitting MLAs. Senior leaders — Eknath Shinde, Ravindra Waikar, Arjun Khotkar, Deepak Kesarkar, Uday Samant, Gulabrao Patil, Dada Bhuse will be again trying their luck in the Assembly elections.
Former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma has been nominated from the Nalasopara constituency. In Mumbai, the party has introduced new faces like Yamini Jadhav (Byculla), Vitthal Lokre (Govandi) and Pandurang Sakpal (Mumbadevi). In Byculla, Sena had supported Arun Gawli-led Akhil Bhartiya Sena in the 2014 polls. However, this time it has decided to contest the seat on its own.
According to sources, the Sena has shifted senior leader Vinod Ghosalkar to Shrivardhan constituency in Raigad district. Mr Ghosalkar was trying hard for the Dahisar seat in Mumbai, but as the Dahisar seat is with the BJP, he was accommodated from Konkan.
Meanwhile, sitting MLA Trupti Sawant has been kept on the waiting list as Mumbai mayor Vishwana-th Mahadeshwar is interested to contest from Ban-dra (east) constituency.
The Sena has also given party tickets to party hoppers who joined recently. Bhaskar Jadhav (Guhagar), Jaydutta Kshirsagar, Abdul Sattar (Sillod) and Nirmala Gavit (Igatpuri) are the few fortunate candidates.
The saffron party is expected to declare the remaining 53 candidates’ names shortly. It is to be noted that the last day to file nomination for the election is October 4.
The date for their scrutiny is October 5. Nominations can be withdrawn till October 7. Maharashtra has a total of 288 assembly seats.
The Election Commission of India has announced single-phase voting for Maharashtra.