Names of Mahayuti alliance nominees will be declared on March 28, says Ajit Pawar

PUNE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Tuesday said the remaining candidates of the Mahayuti alliance, also comprising the BJP and Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, will be declared on March 28.

Pawar also declared the candidature of sitting MP Sunil Tatkare from the Raigad constituency for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP has so far declared candidates for 23 seats in Maharashtra. However, allies Shiv Sena, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawarled NCP have not yet officially declared their nominees.

Speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting of NCP MLAs in Pune, Pawar also hinted that his wife Sunetra Pawar would be fielded from the Baramati constituency.

"Our 99 per cent work on sharing of seats is completed. Names of the remaining candidates of Mahayuti will be declared in a joint press conference to be addressed by the chief minister, Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis, and myself," he said.

Tatkare is the state president of NCP led by Ajit Pawar. He won the 2019 elections from Raigad as a nominee of NCP (undivided).

Pawar also said Shiv Sena leader Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil, who was a part of the NCP (undivided) 20 years ago, will be inducted into the NCP led by him on Tuesday.

Speculation is rife that Adhalrao Patill will be fielded from the Shirur Lok Sabha constituency in Pune district against sitting MP Amol Kolhe, a loyalist of Shard Pawar.

"MPs and MLAs have been assigned the responsibility of their respective constituencies to ensure that everybody works unitedly for Mahayuti," Ajit Pawar said.

He also informed that NCP leader and state minister Dhananjay Munde will be the incharge of the NCP campaign in Maharashtra.

When asked who will contest from the Baramati constituency, he said the suspense will be lifted on March 28.

"We will announce the names of Mahayuti candidates on March 28, but I can assure you that whatever name is in your mind, the same person will be given a ticket," the NCP leader quipped.

Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar is the likely candidate of NCP from Baramati who will square off against sitting MP and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) state unit president Supriya Sule.

Pawar evaded a direct reply to a query on the number of seats the NCP will contest from Maharashtra, which will vote in five phases starting April 19.