The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday announced its list of candidates for the upcoming 2026 Legislative Council elections in Maharashtra and a bypoll in Bihar, marking an early start to preparations for key political contests in both states.
Bihar Bypoll Candidate Declared
For the Bihar Legislative Council by-election in the Bhojpur–Buxar local authority constituency, the BJP has fielded Surya Kumar Sharma (Arvind Sharma). The seat became vacant after the resignation of JD(U) leader Radha Charan Sah following his election to the state Assembly in 2025.
Maharashtra MLC Elections 2026 Candidates
In Maharashtra, the party has named five candidates for the biennial Legislative Council elections scheduled for May 12. The list includes:
- Sunil Karjatkar
- Madhavi Naik
- Sanjay Bhende
- Vivek Kolhe
- Pramod Jathar
Party insiders describe the selection as a mix of experienced organisational leaders and next-generation political faces.
Sunil Karjatkar is a long-time BJP strategist, previously associated with key state election planning. Vivek Kolhe, son of former MLA Snehalata Kolhe, represents a political legacy from the Kopargaon region. Madhavi Naik, a senior state-level office bearer from Thane, has also been given a ticket.
Sanjay Bhende, known for his organisational work in national elections including managing Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s campaign, currently serves as the chairperson of Nagpur Urban Cooperative Bank. Pramod Jathar, a former MLA from Sindhudurg, completes the list.
Election Schedule
The Maharashtra Legislative Council elections will be held on May 12, with voting scheduled from 9 am to 4 pm. Counting will take place the same day at 5 pm, and the entire election process is expected to conclude by May 13.
For the Bihar bypoll, voting will also be conducted on May 12, between 8 am and 4 pm. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 14, with the process concluding by May 15.
