The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has revealed its first list of 99 candidates for the #MaharashtraElection2024, with Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis set to contest from Nagpur South West, and state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule from Kamthi. Other notable nominees include minister Girish Mahajan running from Jamner, and minister Sudhir Mungantiwar from Ballarpur. This move sets the stage for a fierce competition as the party prepares to defend its hold in the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other officials, laid the foundation stone of Hindu shrine Shri Kalki Dham in UP's Sambhal district. PM Modi was seen taking part in the puja rituals as part of the foundation stone laying ceremony. In other political news, Congress leader Ashok Chavan joining the BJP and the buzz of Kamal Nath potentially switching to BJP were also in the headlines.
Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan has left Congress and joined BJP, making him the third high-profile leader to leave the party in recent times. Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has hinted at more leaders following suit. However, Congress remains determined to take on Modi during the upcoming elections.
The exit of former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan from the Congress party has triggered strong reactions from the opposition alliance in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena-UBT President Uddhav Thackeray accused the BJP of breaking up other parties and taking in their members, leading to a possible ex-Congressman becoming the BJP President in the future. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar hinted at a possible investigation against Chavan as the reason for his resignation from the party.
Hours after formally resigning from the Congress party, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan expressed disappointment with the party leadership for not addressing his grievances. In a letter to state Congress president Nana Patole, Chavan also submitted his resignation as an MLA. His exit follows the departure of other senior Congress leaders from the state, raising questions about the party's hold on Maharashtra politics. Sources suggest that more Congress MLAs and leaders may follow Chavan and join the BJP.