Maharashtra Election: As the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections approach, political activities have intensified, with candidates scrambling to secure party tickets. In a significant development from Pune, it has emerged that the Shiv Sena, under Eknath Shinde’s leadership, will not contest any seats in Pune city, mirroring the 2019 election scenario. Reliable sources have confirmed to Sam TV that the party has withdrawn from the Pune region entirely.

This move paves the way for the BJP to dominate the Pune city electoral scene, although they are likely to face some challenges as Ajit Pawar’s NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) is expected to retain certain constituencies. Sources indicate that BJP may have to make way for NCP candidates, especially from areas where incumbent NCP MLAs are seeking re-election. (Devendra Fadnavis News)

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena is eyeing constituencies outside the city, with a particular focus on the Purandar and Bhor constituencies in Pune district. These seats are likely to witness Shinde’s faction fielding candidates. On the other hand, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), led by Uddhav Thackeray, is staking a claim for Pune’s Hadapsar and Kothrud seats. Several names, including Magadev Babar, Prithviraj Sutar, and Chandrakant Mokate, are being discussed as potential contenders for these constituencies. (Ajit Pawar News)

Despite the Shiv Sena split, the party is expected to retain its dominance in the Konkan region, where it is likely to contest the most seats within the Mahayuti alliance. BJP, in contrast, may contest only four to five seats in Konkan, while Ajit Pawar’s faction could secure as few as two seats in the region.

BJP’s First Candidate List Expected by Dussehra

The BJP is expected to release its first list of candidates by Dussehra, with party leaders holding marathon meetings at the Sagar Bungalow in Mumbai. These discussions are reportedly focusing on seat distribution across regions such as Mumbai, Konkan, and Western Maharashtra, followed by similar meetings for Vidarbha and Marathwada in the coming days. (Eknath Shinde News)