The Congress on Wednesday, 2 October, released its third list of 20 candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra. With this list, the party has declared 123 candidates for the polls.
The Congress on Tuesday released its second list of 52 candidates for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, fielding former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan from the Karad South constituency.
Chavan's name was missing in the first list, as the party wanted him to contest the by-election for Satara Lok Sabha seat, necessitated by resignation of sitting NCP MP Udayanraje Bhosale who joined the BJP.
However, Chavan, a former Union minister, declined, and said his focus was on the Assembly. He will now seek a second term in the Assembly from Karad South.
Another prominent name in the party’s second list is Dhiraj Deshmukh, youngest son of former chief minister, late Vilasrao Deshmukh. Dhiraj will make his electoral debut from Latur Rural constituency.
Dhiraj's elder brother Amit is seeking a third term from Latur city. If both managed to win, there will be a pair of brothers in the state assembly for the first time.
The list also includes the name of Yuvraj Mohite, a journalist, who will contest from Goregaon in Mumbai.
The Congress, struggling to pose a challenge to the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena amid exit of some prominent leaders ahead of the polls, announced its first list of 51 candidates for on Sunday, 29 September. It figured former chief minister Ashok Chavan and state party chief Vijay alias Balasaheb Thorat.
Thorat will contest from the Sangamner seat.
Vishwajeet Patangrao Kadam will be contesting from Palus-Kadegaon and Amit Vilasrao Deshmukh is going to contest from Latur City.
Nitin Raut will contest from Nagpur North-SC.
The party will be contesting 125 seats in Maharashtra in alliance with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) which will also contest the same number of seats.
Thirty eight seats have been left for other friendly parties to contest.
The Congress had won 42 seats in the 2014 Assembly elections and the NCP won 41. The elections are scheduled for 21 October.
(With inputs from PTI)
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