Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday released its first list of 99 candidates, including Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and BJP state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
According to the party list, Fadnavis is set to contest from Nagpur South West, and Bawankule will take on the race in Kamthi. Minister Girish Mahajan will stand in Jamner, while fellow minister Sudhir Mungantiwar will contest from Ballarpur.
Sreejaya Ashok Chavan, daughter of Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Chavan, will go to the political battlefield in Bhokar. Chavan, a former Congress leader, switched to the BJP on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections.
Other eminent names on the list include Chhatrapati Shivendra Raje Bhosale contesting from Satara, Ashish Shelar from Vandre West, and Rahul Narwekar from Colaba, among others.
The party has retained 71 MLAs and dropped three. In Mumbai, 14 of the 16 MLAs have been renominated.
The first list includes 13 women candidates.
The BJP, which is in alliance with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, is looking to contest around 150 seats, but is involved in tough bargaining with its allies.
Elections to the 288-member assembly will be held in a single phase on November 20. Votes will be counted on November 23.