In the latest list from Maharashtra, BJP replaces four MPs

Sharad Pawa

The BJP has replaced four sitting MPs in Maharashtra in its third list of six candidates from the state, and has fielded a woman candidate from Baramati, the bastion of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, against sitting MP Supriya Sule. The latest list includes 36 candidates from various states.

With six candidates from Maharashtra, the BJP has so far announced names of 22 candidates. The saffron party is contesting 25 out of total 48 seats in alliance with the Shiv Sena, which will fight on rest of the seats. The BJP had won 22 of the 24 Lok Sabha seats that it contested from Maharashtra in 2014. Prominent among those who are denied re-nomination is Dindori MP Harishchandra Chavan, who has been representing the tribal-dominated seat since 2009. This time, the party has reposed faith in NCP turncoat Bharti Pawar, who had lost to Chavan in 2014 polls by a huge margin.

The BJP has given ticket to KanchanKul, wife of Daundlegislator Rahul Kul,from Baramati seat in Pune district against Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar. Rahul Kul is the MLA of Rashtriya Samaj Paksh, an alliance partner of the BJP in Maharashtra. BJP president Amit Shah had earlier said the party was all set to make inroads into Baramati. Another significant replacement is in Pune constituency, where cabinet minister Girish Bapat has been picked in place of sitting MP Anil Shirole. In Solapur, the BJP has given ticket to Jaisiddeshwar Swami in place of sitting MP Sharad Bansode.

Swami will be pitted against Congress veteran from Solapur Sushilkumar Shinde, a former Union home minister. In 2014 elections, Bansode had emerged as a giant killer by defeating Shinde on his home turf. Another MP who was denied re-nomination is A T Nana Patil from Jalgaon in north Maharashtra. The party has given ticket to SmitaUday Wagh. In the earlier list of 16 candidates, the BJP renominated 14 MPs including Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari (Nagpur) and Dr Subhash Bhamre (Dhule).

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