Congress Declares Four Candidates for Maharashtra Lok Sabha Polls

Mumbai, Mar 23 - In a significant political development, the Congress party announced its candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, setting the stage for key electoral battles. Among the notable declarations is the fielding of MLA Vikas Thakre against Union Minister and BJP stalwart Nitin Gadkari for the Nagpur constituency. This move marks a critical contest in Maharashtra's political landscape, where 48 Lok Sabha seats are at stake.

The Congress, a key player in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, has now revealed 11 candidates for the state. The recent announcement covers four constituencies - Nagpur, Ramtek SC, Bhandara-Gondiya, and Gadchiroli-Chimur - which are part of the first phase of elections scheduled for April 19. Vikas Thakre, currently serving as the Nagpur West MLA and a prominent figure within the Congress party, is set to challenge Nitin Gadkari in what promises to be a closely watched contest.

Other candidates introduced by the Congress include Rashmi Barve for Ramtek, a constituency reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates; Prashant Padole for Bhandara-Gondiya; and Namdeo Kirsan for Gadchiroli-Chimur. Rashmi Barve currently holds the position of Nagpur Zilla Parishad's president. The selection of candidates comes amid internal discussions within the party, highlighted by senior leader Nitin Raut's preference for his son Kunal Raut to contest from Ramtek.

In Chandrapur, another key constituency and the only one won by Congress in Maharashtra during the 2019 elections, the party faces a choice between Vijay Wadettiwar's daughter Shivani and local MLA Pratibha Dhanorkar. The BJP has positioned state minister Sudhir Mungantiwar as its candidate for Chandrapur. With the deadline for filing nominations set for March 27, political activities have intensified across the state.

Vikas Thakre's candidacy against Nitin Gadkari is particularly noteworthy. Thakre, who currently presides over the Nagpur city Congress and has previously served as Mayor of Nagpur Municipal Corporation, emerged victorious against BJP's Sudhakar Deshmukh in the 2019 assembly elections. His role as former chairman of Nagpur Improvement Trust further solidifies his political credentials.

The 2019 Lok Sabha elections saw the BJP securing five out of ten constituencies in the Vidarbha region, including Nagpur. The Shiv Sena, before its split, had managed to win three seats. As Maharashtra gears up for another electoral showdown, all eyes will be on these critical contests that could shape the state's political future.