Mumbai: The NCP on Thursday released its first list of candidates for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections; as expected, sitting MP Supriya Sule is in the list and will contest from family bastion Baramati.
However, the list, released by state party President Jayant Patil, did not name the candidate from Maval; this is a contentious seat from where Parth Ajit Pawar, the grand-nephew of NCP President Sharad Pawar, is expected to contest after the latter opted out of the poll race.
Also, the candidature for Madha seat remains undecided. The constituency is witnessing a sharp family tussle between the sitting MP Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil and his son Ranjitsinh, with the latter virtually threatening to walk over to the BJP, if denied a ticket. The NCP has accommodated Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana on one seat. The 12 candidates are from Maharashtra and from Lakshadweep Islands.
The NCP has given tickets to three out of the five sitting MPs. The other nominees are Sunil Tatkare (Raigad), Udayanraje Bhosale (Satara), Dhananjay Mahadik (Kolhapur), Rajendra Shingane (Buldhana), Gulabrao Deokar (Jalgaon). Also in the fray will be Sanjay Dina-Patil (Mumbai North-East) – the only seat that the NCP will contest in the commercial capital; Rajesh Vitekar (Parbhani), Anand Paranjpe (Thane), Babaji B.
Patil (Kalyan), Mohammed P.P. Faizal (Lakshadweep Isles). The Hatkanangale constituency has been kept aside for the SSS and Raju Shetti is likely to contest. The remaining two lists will be announced over the next few days, since negotiations are still on with the Congress, Patil claimed. The NCP list came out a day after its ally Congress released its second list which included five candidates from Maharashtra.
