The BJP has revealed its initial list of 99 candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, kicking off its campaign in the state where it aims to contest 150 out of the total 288 seats. The list comprises 71 incumbent MLAs and numerous prominent party figures.
Some of the notable names include Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, State BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, and senior ministers Girish Mahajan, Sudhir Mungantiwar, and Chandrakant Patil. Shreeja Chavan, the daughter of former Congress leader and Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, is set to run from the Bhokar constituency. Ashok Chavan recently switched to the BJP prior to the Lok Sabha elections, and other ex-Congress and NCP members who have also shifted sides are among the candidates.
The BJP’s list, unveiled on Sunday, features 13 women candidates, showcasing the party’s efforts to attract female voters through initiatives like the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana, which offers a monthly stipend of ₹1,500 to eligible women. Of the party’s 16 MLAs in Mumbai, 14 have been fielded again, while newcomers have been introduced in Chinchwad (Pune district), Kalyan East (Thane district), and Srigonda (Ahilyanagar district), replacing the incumbent MLAs.
The BJP is currently in talks with its coalition partners to secure a larger share of the seats in what is expected to be a fiercely contested election in Maharashtra.
