The NCP today released its second list of seven more candidates for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, fielding former minister Nawab Malik's daughter Sana Malik and former minister Baba Siddique's son and former Congress legislator Zeeshan Siddique.
Zeeshan joined NCP yesterday in the presence of party President Ajit Pawar and state unit chief Sunil Tatkare, and his nomination was declared soon after that. He will fight Shiv Sena-UBT nominee Varun Sardesai from Bandra East.
Former BJP leaders Sanjaykaka Patil and Nishikant Patil too have joined the NCP.
The NCP, which had announced its first list of 38 nominees, on Thursday declared the second list of nominees with a meeting between Pawar and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the seat-sharing formula with the BJP and the Shiv Sena. The NCP hopes to get 55 to 58 seats in the Mahayuti's seat-sharing deal.
For Nawab Malik, accused of being a close associate of the gangster and absconding in connection with the money laundering case, his daughter Sana has been fielded by the Nationalist Congress Party from Anushakti Nagar constituency, represented by Nawab Malik, who is on medical bail in connection with the money laundering case, the NCP has fielded his daughter Sana. Nawab Malik, who had expressed his desire to contest from the adjoining Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar seat, currently represented by Samajwadi Party legislator Abu Azmi, was expecting to be nominated soon.
The NCP nominated Sanjaykaka Patil, who lost to an independent Vishal Patil from Sangli constituency in the Lok Sabha elections, from Tasgaon-Kavathe Mahankal seat against former deputy chief minister late RR Patil's son and NCP SP nominee Rohit Patil.
The NCP also nominated Nishikant Patil against state NCP-SP president and former minister Jayant Patil from the Islampur constituency.
The party has again nominated Sunil Tingre from Wadgaonkar Sheri constituency in the Pune district. He was in news for his name in the hit-and-run case in Pune.
On May 19, a 17-year-old juvenile was driving a luxury car when it crashed into a bike, killing two young riders in Kalyaninagar. Post the accident, Tingre allegedly rushed to the police station to save the juvenile. Moreover, it was also alleged that Tingre was trying to influence the probe by using his political clout. However, Ajit Pawar stood in Tingre's support.
It has also named former BJP MP from Nanded Pratap Chikhalikar, who had lost to the Congress nominee late Vasant Chavan from Nanded start in the general elections. Chikhalikar has recently joined NCP.
The party has named Dnyanewhar Katke from the Shirur seat against NCP-SP candidate Ashok Pawar.
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