Lok Sabha Polls LIVE: Shiv Sena (UBT) To Announce First List of Candidates In Maharashtra Today

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: Please follow this space for all the latest updates and news on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Shiv Sena (UBT) To Announce First List of Candidates for Maharashtra LS Polls

The Shiv Sena (UBT) is set to unveil its initial list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra on Monday, with approximately 15 to 16 names expected to feature, according to party leader Sanjay Raut, news agency PTI reported. Raut, a Rajya Sabha MP, confirmed the announcement during a media briefing on Monday, stating, “The Shiv Sena (UBT)’s (first) list will be declared tomorrow (March 26). We will declare candidates for 15-16 seats tomorrow.” Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is anticipated to release its list of candidates shortly, as indicated by party leader and Lok Sabha MP Rahul Shewale.

The anticipated candidates include Amol Kiritkar for Mumbai North-West, Chandrahar Patil for Sangli, and Anant Gete for Raigad. However, the final list is yet to be officially confirmed. The party’s decision comes as other constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, particularly the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar, are yet to announce their candidates.

NCW Seeks Action Against Congress’s Supriya Shrinate Over Post On Kangana Ranaut

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has called for strict action against Congress leaders Supriya Shrinate and H S Ahir for derogatory remarks made against actress Kangana Ranaut, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections as a BJP candidate from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat. Shrinate’s objectionable Instagram post targeting Ranaut has since been removed. Addressing the matter, Shrinate clarified, “Many people have access to my Facebook and Instagram accounts, and someone from them made an extremely inappropriate post today. As soon as I came to know, I deleted that post.”

Congress Party’s Sixth List of Lok Sabha Candidates

In another development, the Congress party on Sunday announced its sixth list of Lok Sabha candidates, nominating Prahlad Gunjal, a former BJP leader and close associate of former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje, to contest against outgoing Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from Kota, Rajasthan. Gunjal, who joined the Congress last week, aims to challenge Birla’s stronghold in the region. Alongside Gunjal, the Congress fielded candidates for other constituencies, including Ajmer, Rajsamand, Bhilwara in Rajasthan, and Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. With this announcement, the Congress has now declared a total of 190 candidates for the upcoming polls. Additionally, Tharahai Cuthbert has been nominated for the by-election for the Vilavancode assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu.