Mumbai: The Congress party on Sunday released its first list of 51 names for the upcoming Assembly election.
State unit president Balasaheb Thorat, Congress legislative party (CLP) leader K.C. Padavi and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, deputy leader in Maharashtra Assembly Arif Nasim Khan have figured in the party’s first list.
The Congress party has given tickets to all sitting legislators from the city, excluding Aslam Shaikh (Malad West), who may join the saffron fold next week.
Three-time corporator from Bhandup, Suresh Koparkar, has been given ticket from Bhandup West. Mr Koparkar could contest against the Shiv Sena candidate if the between Sena and BJP ends.
Former minister D.P. Sawant has been fielded from Nanded North. Former ministers Dr Nitin Raut and Varsha Gaikwad would contest from Nagpur North and Dharavi respectively.
Sons of prominent Congress leaders have featured in the list too. Baba Siddique’s son in the next Assembly Zishan Siddique would be fielded from Bandra East. Mr Siddique had lost the 2014 polls from adjoining Bandra West.
The list also featured the name of Amit Deshmukh, son of late former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who would fight for re-election from Latur city. Mr Deshmukh’s father had represented the seat five times in the past.
Dr Vishwajeet Kadam, son of late Cabinet minister Patangrao Kadam, would seek re-election from Palus-Kadegaon.
Pariniti Shinde, daughter of former Union minister Sushilkumar Shinde, has been given the ticket from Solapur Central.
The Congress is expected to contest 125 seats in alliance with the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which would contest on equal number of seats. However, Mr Thorat on Sunday has indicated that his party could contest more seats.
Parties like Samajwadi Party and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana would contest the remaining seats.
