Shiv Sena's Candidate List Unveiled for Maharashtra Assembly Elections

Shiv Sena has announced its first set of 45 candidates for the Maharashtra assembly elections, with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde seeking re-election from Kopri-Panchpakhadi in Thane. The party has retained most MLAs who supported Shinde's 2022 rebellion. Elections will be held on November 20, with results declared on November 23.

The Shiv Sena has disclosed its initial roster of 45 contenders for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is set to run again from the Kopri-Panchpakhadi seat in Thane city, amid a field of over half a dozen cabinet ministers vying from their respective constituencies.

According to the list, which emerged late on Tuesday, the party has largely retained the MLAs who stood by Shinde during his revolt against former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022. This move by the ruling party positions Shiv Sena as the second major political entity to reveal its candidate slate, following its ally BJP, which announced 99 candidates.

The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with the vote count set for November 23. Noteworthy candidates include ministers Gulabrao Patil and Deepak Kesarkar, among others. Meanwhile, the ruling coalition Mahayuti, including the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP, has yet to finalize seat-sharing arrangements for the 288-member assembly contest.

(With inputs from agencies.)