In a significant development, the Congress Central Election Committee has concluded its meeting in Delhi, solidifying its strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. Among the key decisions made, the allocation of candidates for all 18 constituencies in the state has been finalized, with special attention given to the crucial Pune seat.
Ravindra Dhangekar, a prominent Congress MLA, has been named as the party’s nominee for the Pune Lok Sabha constituency, indicating the party’s intent to contest against the BJP’s Muralidhar Mohol, who hails from the ruling party. This decision comes after deliberations regarding the potential candidacy of NCP leader Vasant More, which did not materialize due to the Congress’s determination to field its own candidate in Pune.
The finalized list of Congress candidates for Maharashtra includes several notable names, with Praniti Shinde securing candidacy for Solapur and Balwant Vanakhe for Amravati. Other confirmed candidates include
· Chandrapur – Opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar
· Amravati – Balwant Vanakhe
· Nagpur – Vikas Thakre
· Solapur – Praniti Shinde
· Kolhapur – Shahu Maharaj
· Pune – Ravindra Dhangekar
· Nandurbar – Govasha Padvi (son of Ke. C. Padvi)
· Nagpur – Vikas Thakre
· Gondia-Bhandara – State President Nana Patole
· Gadchiroli – Namdev Kirsan
· Akola – Abhay Patil
· Nanded – Vasant Chavan
· Latur – Dr. Kalge
Discussions are ongoing for remaining seats, with particular focus on Chandrapur, where Opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar’s candidacy is being deliberated.
The upcoming days are expected to see intensified discussions within the Mahavikas Aghadi, focusing on seat-sharing agreements and finalizing candidate lists. A significant meeting is scheduled in Mumbai, where leaders from the alliance will convene to reach crucial decisions regarding the allocation of seats and the electoral strategy moving forward.
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar emphasized, “Discussions have commenced for two or three seats, with final decisions pending. Tomorrow’s meeting of the Mahavikas Aghadi leaders will be pivotal in determining the course of action.”
