The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP – Sharad Pawar) today announced its first list of 44 candidates for the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra. Yugendra Pawar, nephew of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, will challenge him by contesting from the Baramati constituency. Key NCP (SP) leaders include Jayant Patil, who will contest from Islampur in Sangli; Rohit Patil from Tasgaon-Kavathemahankal; Jitendra Awhad from Mumbra-Kalwa; Anil Deshmukh from Katol; Balasaheb Patil from Karad North; Sunil Busara from Vikramgad; Mansinghrao Naik from Shirala; Rohit Pawar from Karjat Jamkhed; Harshvardhan Patil from Indapur; and Shashikant Shinde from Koregaon.