Congress Unveils Second List of Candidates for Maharashtra Assembly Elections
In a strategic move ahead of the November 20 Assembly elections, the Congress party has released its second list of 23 candidates, bringing the total to 71. The announcement was made on Saturday following a meeting of the party’s Central Election Committee (CEC), which deliberated on the potential nominees for the upcoming polls.
Among the notable candidates is Kailash Gorantyal, who will be defending his seat in Jalna, and Anuja Kedar, the wife of disqualified party leader Sunil Kedar, who will contest from the Saoner constituency in Nagpur. Sunil Kedar was barred from running for six years due to his conviction in the Nagpur District Central Cooperative Bank scam, making Anuja’s candidacy a significant focal point for the party.
The Congress had previously announced 48 candidates in its first list, which included several prominent figures such as PCC chief Nana Patole, former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, and Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar. With this latest list, the party aims to solidify its position in Maharashtra, where it is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition alongside the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Senior party leader Vasant Purke, who faced defeat in the 2019 elections, is making a comeback from Ralegaon in Yavatmal, while Shivajirao Moghe’s son Jitendra will take over his father’s candidacy from the Arni seat. In Mumbai, the Congress has put forward Kalu Badheliya for Kandivali East, Ganesh Yadav for Sion Koliwada, and Yashwant Singh for Charkop, aiming to strengthen its foothold in the city.
The stakes are high as the Congress prepares to challenge the ruling BJP, with Suresh Bhoyar set to take on state BJP chief Chandrashekar Bawankule in Kamptee. In Wardha, Shekhar Shende, son of the late former assembly speaker Pramod Shende, will also be contesting.
Ramesh Chennithala, the AICC in-charge for Maharashtra, expressed confidence in the MVA’s united front, stating, "We will fight together to realize the dreams of the people of Maharashtra. We are confident that MVA will form the government. People are ready to throw out this corrupt government."
Nana Patole echoed this sentiment, predicting a stronger performance for the MVA in the Assembly elections compared to the Lok Sabha polls. "We, the MVA, are all set to sweep the upcoming assembly elections," he declared, signaling the party’s readiness for a vigorous campaign.
As the election date approaches, the Congress is ramping up its efforts to connect with voters and present a united front against the BJP, setting the stage for what promises to be a fiercely contested election in Maharashtra.
