Mumbai, September 19
The NCP today announced its first list of candidates for the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
All big names of the party have been accommodated in the 104 candidates announced today. Among those former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and former Home Minister Chhagan Bhujbal (Yewla constituency) and Mr Sunil Tatkare (Mangaon) Bhujbal’s son, Pankaj, will contest from Mazgaon in Central Mumbai.
In alliance with the Congress the NCP will contest 129 seats in the 288-member Assembly. However, the NCP may give up a few seats for some smaller parties who are currently in the Democratic Front government in the state.
More than 50 of the NCP nominies are new faces. Home Minister and state NCP chief R.R. Patil said today that the outfit headed by Mr Sharad Pawar aimed at bringing about a judicious mix between youth and experience. The NCP and the Congress have decided to retain most of the sitting candidates to prevent rebels from contesting.
More than 50 per cent of the NCP candidates are new faces even as most sitting MLAs have been given another chance, Mr Patil said. Two MLAs have, however, been dropped. Five women have been given the ticket.
The Congress will contest 161 Assembly seats. Like the NCP it will give a few seats to the smaller parties to prevent the secular vote from splitting. The Congress list is, however, expected on Monday.
