The BJP recently announced its first list of candidates for the upcoming elections. The list includes 71 sitting MLAs and 10 ministers, such as deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule. Interestingly, many family members of MLAs and leaders are also on the list, raising questions about nepotism within the party.
In addition to Fadnavis, other prominent ministers in the list include Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Vijaykumar Gavit, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Girish Mahajan, Chandrakant Patil, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Ravindra Chavan, Atul Save, and Suresh Khade. The list also features family members of BJP leaders, such as Shreejaya Chavan, Sulabha Gaikwad, and Pratibha Pachpute.
When asked about nepotism allegations, BJP spokesperson Atul Bhatkhalkar denied them, stating that candidates were chosen based on their merit and years of service to the party. The party has also given tickets to leaders who lost in the 2019 elections, aiming to give them another chance to serve.
The list includes candidates from various constituencies, with a focus on repeating sitting MLAs from Mumbai. However, some MLAs, like Sunil Rane, Parag Shah, and Bharati Lavekar, did not find their names on the list, leading to uncertainty about their political future. The first list comprises 99 candidates, including 81 sitting MLAs, while the fate of the remaining 22 MLAs remains unknown.
Devendra Fadnavis and Chandrashekhar Bawankule expressed their gratitude for being selected as candidates and thanked the party’s leadership and the people of Maharashtra. With the announcement of the first list, the political landscape in Maharashtra is heating up as the elections draw near.
