Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) Unveils Candidates for Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024

Mumbai : In a significant move, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has announced additional candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly Elections set for November 2024. The party has nominated Harun Khan for the Versova constituency, Sanjay Bhalerao for Ghatkopar West, and Sandeep Naik for Vile Parle. These announcements add to the party’s first list of 65 candidates, which featured Aaditya Thackeray, who is contesting from the Worli seat and has already filed his nomination papers.

One of the key battles will unfold in the Kopri-Panchpakhadi constituency, where Kedhar Dighe, nephew of the late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe, will challenge Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The contest is notable given Anand Dighe’s role as a mentor to Shinde. Other candidates fielded by the party include Sunil Raut in Vikhroli, Rajan Vichare in Thane, Dipesh Mhatre in Dombivli, and Vaishali Sooryavanshi in Pachora.

As the election date of November 20 approaches, both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are intensifying their campaigns. The nomination process for all 288 assembly seats is already underway, with results to be declared on November 23.

Reflecting on previous election outcomes, in 2019, the BJP secured 105 seats, Shiv Sena won 56, and Congress took 44. In 2014, the BJP had a stronger showing with 122 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 63, and Congress with 42.