Sena takes a U-Turn

The Shiv Sena (UBT) list of 65 candidates, which included Aaditya Thackeray’s name, was released at around 6.50pm. However, within half and hour party leader Sanjay Raut clarified that the list was not the final one and it was released by mistake.

“We are aware that the list includes candidates on certain seats that we have agreed to give to our alliance partners Congress, NCP (SP) and Peasants and Workers Party (PWP). It happened because of some administrative error. We will find out how it happened and the actual list of candidates will be issued tomorrow,” Raut said.

The Mahayuti alliance comprising BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP have declared candidates for 182 out of 288 Maharashtra Assembly seats.

The NCP announced 38 candidates including 26 sitting MLAs. Shiv Sena has declared 45 candidates including chief minister Eknath Shinde,while the BJP has announced its candidates for 99 seats. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, NCP state president Sunil Tatkare, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis have gone to New Delhi to meet top leadership of BJP to hold a discussion over 18 to 20 disputed seats.

The Mahayuti candidates will start filing nominations from Thursday.