Maharashtra Elections: BJP Fields 99 Candidates, 71 Sitting MLAs, 13 Women Among Nominees

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Mumbai: The BJP has released its first list of 99 candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, scheduled for November 20, 2024. This list includes 71 sitting MLAs, reflecting the party’s confidence in their current representatives. Prominent figures such as Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will contest from Nagpur South West, while Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar is set to run from Vandre West. Other key candidates include Nitesh Rane from Kankavli, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule from Kamthi, and former state BJP president Chandrakant Patil from Kothrud.

The list also includes 13 women candidates and some significant newcomers like Srijaya Chavan, the daughter of former Congress leader Ashok Chavan, who will make her electoral debut from Bhokar. This move highlights the BJP’s focus on familial political figures as part of its broader electoral strategy.

In addition to the key candidates mentioned, the BJP’s first list signifies its tactical focus on reinforcing its political strongholds by fielding experienced leaders and political heirs. The nomination of Srijaya Chavan, daughter of former Congress leader Ashok Chavan, reflects the party’s strategy of bringing in fresh faces while leveraging well-known political families.
Moreover, the inclusion of women candidates highlights the BJP’s attempt to broaden its appeal, particularly to female voters, as it faces a tough contest from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, led by the Congress, NCP, and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. The BJP is also working to navigate the complexities of seat-sharing agreements with its allies, the Shiv Sena (led by Eknath Shinde) and the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar.

The BJP’s first list for the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections underscores its efforts to balance seasoned leaders with political heirs and new faces. This blend is part of a larger strategy to appeal to a broad voter base across urban and rural constituencies. The party has strongly emphasised retaining its key urban bastions, like Mumbai and Pune while attempting to expand its influence in rural and semi-urban regions.

Amid challenging negotiations with allies like the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), the BJP is aiming for a strong majority, targeting approximately 150 seats out of the total 288. The party’s candidate list, which includes family members of established political figures, women candidates, and sitting MLAs, highlights its tactical manoeuvring ahead of a tough electoral battle against the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

The party will face intense competition from the opposition, which has also consolidated its strength, as the MVA continues to fight on the platform of regional pride and governance. The BJP’s performance in the upcoming elections will hinge on its ability to balance coalition dynamics while maintaining its core support base.

The BJP aims to secure a significant victory by targeting around 150 seats out of the total 288 in the Maharashtra Assembly, with a focus on maintaining its dominance in urban centres like Mumbai and Pune.
As the November 20 elections draw closer, the BJP’s candidate choices and overall campaign strategy will be crucial in determining its success, particularly in maintaining its urban strongholds and expanding into more rural constituencies.