Congress releases second list of 23 candidates for Maharashtra Assembly polls

The Congress on Saturday released the second list of candidates for the upcoming assembly polls in Maharashtra. The party has announced the names of 23 candidates in the second list.

The Central Election Committee met and discussed the names and Congress has so far announced the names of 71 candidates. The party announced candidates for 48 seats in the first list. 

Congress’s in-charge in Maharashtra, Ramesh Chennithala, said though limited, all parties will be given representation as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in Maharashtra. “Samajwadi Party, CPM, CPI and AAP are part of MVA. We are giving representation to all the parties, but seats are limited,” he said.

Congress had retained the names of 25 incumbent MLAs in its first list of nominees. The Congress asserted that there were no differences in the coalition and the final seat-sharing arrangement among its constituents will be out by Saturday evening. "The MVA is contesting unitedly and we have no differences," Chennithala said. "We will fight together to realise the dreams of the people of Maharashtra. We are confident that MVA will form the government. People are ready to throw out this corrupt government," PTI reported quoting Chennithala.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said the MVA will perform better in the Assembly polls, than in the Lok Sabha polls, and the alliance will form a full majority government in the state. As part of the alliance, the key members – Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP-SP, will contest 85 seats each in the upcoming polls.

Polling for the Maharashtra Assembly polls will be conducted on November 20 and the votes will be counted on November 23.