Maharashtra Assembly Elections: Shiv Sena (UBT) releases second list of 15 candidates

The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday released its second list of candidates for the Maharashtra assembly elections, adding 15 names. This follows from their first list of 65 candidates. The new candidates include former BJP MLA Anil Gote, who recently joined the Sena (UBT) and will contest from Dhule City. The list was published in the party’s spokesman, Alone.

The new list of Shiv Sena (UBT) candidates includes Raju Tadvi from Chopada, Jayshree Mahajan from Jalgaon City and former Mumbai mayor Shraddha Jadhav, who will face the BJP’s Kalidas Kolambkar in Wadala. Dhananjay Bodore will face BJP’s Sulabha Gaikwad, wife of jailed MLA Ganpat Gaikwad, in Kalyan East. Raju Tadvi, former BMC education officer, resigned from his post on Friday to contest from Chopada constituency reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

The list of candidates has been released even though the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance is yet to finalize a seat-sharing agreement. Tensions have arisen between the Sena (UBT) and the Congress over the Sena’s (UBT) claims on the Bombay seats, especially regarding the Colaba and Versova seats. Internal competition in the Sena (UBT) has also led to multiple candidates competing for some seats.

AICC has asked senior leaders to work with Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray to resolve seat allocation issues. The final seat-sharing plan for the alliance is expected to be announced today, in preparation for the elections scheduled for November 20.