New Delhi: The BJP on Sunday announced candidates for three of the five Maharashtra Legislative Council constituencies going to polls on October 23, intensifying political manoeuvring ahead of the elections.
Former MLA Sudhakar Kohale will contest from Nagpur Graduates’ constituency, Dr Smita Jadhav, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Dr D Y Patil University, from Pune Graduates’, and Kaustubh Gawade, CEO of Shri Swami Vivekanand Shikshan Sanstha, from Pune Teachers’.
Kohale will take on incumbent Congress MLC Abhijit Wanjari, while Gawade will face sitting legislator Jayant Asgaonkar, who has been renominated by the Congress. The Maha Vikas Aghadi is yet to announce its candidate for Pune Graduates’.
Under the Mahayuti seat-sharing arrangement, the BJP will contest three seats, leaving Nagpur Teachers’ to Shiv Sena and Aurangabad Graduates’ to NCP. Both parties are yet to announce their nominees.
The Congress has fielded Prof Aditi Rishikesh Pohare from Amravati Teachers’ constituency, triggering resentment within the Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP).
The last date for nominations is October 6, with polling on October 23 and counting on October 27.