Shiv Sena releases first list of 8 candidates for Lok Sabha elections

Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has revealed its inaugural list comprising eight candidates. The announcement underscores the party’s strategic positioning within the political landscape of the state.

Shiv Sena, a key constituent of the NDA alliance alongside Ajit Pawar’s NCP, has strategically nominated candidates across various constituencies in Maharashtra, where there are 48 Lok Sabha seats at stake.

Among the notable names on the list is former Congress MLA Raju Parve, who recently joined Shiv Sena and has been nominated for the Ramtek (SC) seat. This move signals the party’s intent to broaden its electoral base by incorporating diverse voices.

The list also includes candidates such as Rahul Shewale for Mumbai South Central, Sanjay Mandlik for Kolhapur, Sadashiv Lokhande for Shirdi (SC), Prataprao Jadhav for Buldhana, Hemant Patil for Hingoli, Srirang Barne for Maval, and Dhairyasheel Mane for Hatkanangale.

The decision to unveil the candidate roster comes amid heightened anticipation surrounding the Lok Sabha polls, scheduled to be held in five phases on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, and May 20.

Shiv Sena’s strategic maneuvering in alliance with the NDA assumes significance in light of its previous alliance with the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, which saw a subsequent split in June 2022. Notably, 13 out of the 18 MPs from Maharashtra allied with Shinde’s faction post the split.

In a recent development, veteran Bollywood actor Govinda has joined Shiv Sena, citing admiration for the party’s leadership under Eknath Shinde and expressing confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance.