The Congress is likely to release its first list of 11 candidates from Maharashtra on Monday, soon after the meeting of the party’s central election committee headed by president Rahul Gandhi. The constituencies for which the state unit and steering committee have given only one name are likely to make it to the list.

The CEC comprises All India Congress Committee general secretaries and the three top leaders from the state. Among the 11 constituencies with only one name in the fray are Wardha (Mukul Wasnik), Yavatmal (Manikrao Thakre), Solapur (Sushilkumar Shinde), Nanded (Amita Chavan), Ramtek (Mukul Wasnik), Wardha (Charulata Tokas), Dhule (Rohidas Patil), Mumbai South (Milind Deora), Mumbai North Central (Priya Dutt), Pratik Patil (Sangli) and Gadchiroli (Namdeo Usendi).

“The first list of Maharashtra candidates is expected anytime after the CEC meeting on Monday. The state leadership has been directed to seal the deal with smaller parties at the earliest. If Ambedkar-led Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh is not ready to forge the alliance, the other smaller parties may get additional seats. The final decision is expected to take some more time as both the Congress and NCP want to try bringing Ambedkar on board until the last minute,” said a Congress leader.

The state units of the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have been struggling to stitch the alliances with the smaller parties, which have been playing hardball. Top leaders from both the parties met leaders from Swabhimani Paksha led by MP Raju Shetti and Hitendra Thakur-led Bahujan Vikas Aghadi on Saturday.

Shetti’s party is likely to get two seats, while Thakur may get Palghar constituency. Communist Party of India (Marxist) has been demanding the Dindori constituency in Nashik. Although the Samajwadi Party is demanding one seat, state leadership is not keen on it unless Bahujan Samaj Party agrees to come on board.

The Congress and NCP have been at loggerheads over exchange of Ahmednagar, which is with the latter. The Congress has been demanding it for Dr Sujay Vikhe Patil, son of leader of opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil. If the NCP denies to concede, Sujay has kept the option of joining the BJP or contesting as an independent open. The state unit of Congress wants party chief Rahul Gandhi to intervene and speak to NCP chief Sharad Pawar for the exchange of seat.

First Published: Mar 11, 2019 10:34 IST