Shiv Sena has announced its first list of 45 candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will be recontesting in the Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency, which he currently represents. Additionally, state minister Abdul Sattar will contest the election in Sillod, Sanjay Rathod in Digras, Santosh Bangar in Kalamnuri, and Sanjay Shirsat in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar West. Vilas Bhumre, the son of MP Sandipan Bhumre, is entering the fray from Paithan, while Suhas Kande will contest from Nandgaon, Pratap Sarnaik from Ovala-Majiwada, and Dadaji Bhuse from the Malegaon Outer Assembly constituency. Bharat Gogawale will contest from Mahad, Tanaji Sawant from Paranda, and Sambhuraj Desai from Patan. State ministers Uday Samant and Deepak Kesarkar are being fielded from Ratnagiri and Sawantwadi, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has also announced its second list of 45 candidates. MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s son, Amit Thackeray, is entering the fray from Mahim, where he will contest against incumbent MLA Sada Sarvankar of Shiv Sena.