Maharashtra polls: 88 candidates in fray for 7 assembly seats in Raigad

Alibaug (Maha), Oct 5: Besides the prominent national political parties- Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena, BJP and BSP, the PWP (Peasants and Workers' Party) is also contesting all seven constituencies in Raigad district, while the MNS is in fray for five seats.

There are total 88 candidates in Raigad district, out of which 24 are independents. In the seven constituencies in the district namely Alibaug, Pen, Panvel, Karjat, Uran, Shrivardhan and Mahad- 19.76 lakh voters are eligible to cast their vote.

Out of that 10.11 lakh are male voters, while 9.64 lakh are women. Former Maharashtra Minister Sunil Tatkare of NCP is not contesting the upcoming assembly election.

However, other sitting legislators Bharat Gogawale (Shiv Sena) from Mahad, Suresh Lad (NCP) from Karjat, Dhairyashil Patil of PWP from Pen, Vivek Patil of PWP from Uran, are seeking to retain their seats.

From Alibaug constituency, 15 candidates are in fray. The fight will be mainly among Congress, PWP, Shiv Sena and NCP candidates.

From Pen constituency, Ravi Patil of Congress, Dhairyashil Patil of PWP, Kishore Jain of Shiv Sena, are the prominent candidates.

MLA Prashant Thakur of Congress joined BJP and is contesting from Panvel. From Panvel constituency, R C Gharat, Raigad district Congress president, Balaram Patil (PWP), Prashant Thakur (BJP) are important candidates.

Prashant Thakur, who was earlier with the Congress, joined the saffron party recently. In Karjat constituency, the fight is among eight candidates, with Suresh Lad, sitting NCP MLA, Mahendra Thorve of PWP, Hanumant Pingale of Shiv Sena being the prominent ones.

From Uran constituency, sitting PWP MLA Vivek Patil, Mahendra Gharat of Congress and Manohar Bhoir of Sena are some of the prominent names.

For the Mahad seat, Manik Jagtap of Congress, sitting MLA Bharat Gogavale of Sena are some of the prominent names in the fray, while six others sake of name of their political party.

In Shrivardhan constituency Avdhoot Tatkare, nephew of Sunil Tatkare, Aslam Raut of PWP, Ravindra Mundhe of Sena and seven others are in the fray.

PTI