Maharashtra polls: BJP releases list of 172 candidates

, Sept 27: The Bharatiya Janata Party (

) on Friday night released its first list of candidates for the October 15 Maharashtra assembly elections. The list of 172 candidates comprises top leaders in the state, including leaders of Opposition in the state assembly and Legislative Council Eknath Khadse and Vinod Tawde, respectively. State BJP chief Devendra Fadnavis, an MLA, has also been fielded for the high-profile battle.

While Khadse will be contesting from Muktainagar seat, Tawde will contest from Borivali. Fadnavis will contest from Nagpur South West constituency. Pankaja, elder daughter of former Union minister Gopinath Munde, who died in a road accident in New Delhi in June, will contest from Parli constituency.

The list was released just a day after the BJP's poll alliance with long-term ally Shiv Sena broke up and a day before the last date for filing nominations.

Sources said the BJP is working closely with some of the smaller parties of the grand alliance like the Rashtriya Samaj Party (RSP), Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) and Shiv Sangram, led by Maratha leader Vinayak Mete, besides RPI leader Ramdas Athawale.

Oneindia News

[With PTI inputs]