Shiv Sena has opted for a status quo instead of going for any experimentation while declaring its first list of 21 Lok Sabha poll candidates in Maharashtra to avoid rebellion. The party, however, has dropped Osmanabd MP Ravi Gaikwad, who allegedly hit an Air India staffer in 2017 but has re-nominated other 17 MPs.

The party has fielded former legislator Omraje Nimbalkar against NCP legislator and nominee Rana Jagatjit Singh Patil from Osmanabd. Incidentally, both are cousins and both the parties have made the fight between the two a prestige.

Insiders said that the party president Uddhav Thackeray was not keen to take any risk by fielding fresh faces when it was worried about transfer of votes from BJP after the recent seat-sharing pact. Despite in power in Maharashtra and at the Centre, Thackeray in particular and Shiv Sena, in general, were at the forefront to strongly attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NDA government’s slew of decisions. However, both the parties realized that united they win divided they lose and therefore forced to bury differences and join hands in the state.

Thackeray after holding series of meetings with party leaders up to village had shortlisted list of nominees in all 48 Lo Sabha seats had it stuck to its stand to go solo. However, with the renewed bonhomie with BJP, the saffron party is now forced to reach out to the voters seeking votes for a strong government at the Centre led by a strong leader and not the Mahamilawat Sarkar. The party believes that due to the alliance with BJP it will weather anti incumbency especially when Congress, NCP and other like-minded parties are struggling to put up a challenge for the saffron combine.

Shiv Sena has repeated Sanjay Mandlik from Kolhapur against NCP MP Dhananjay Mahadik while former NCP leader Dhairyasheel Mane from Hatkalnagade against Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) MP Raju Shetti and Hemant Patil from Hingoli which is currently represented by Congress. Mandlik had lost to Mahadik in 2014. Shetti, who was elected to Lok Sabha as BJP’s ally in last election, is now associated with Congress and NCP floated Mahagthbandhan.

Shiv Sena has yet to declare candidates for Satara and Palghar seats citing talks with BJP are underway. Mathadi leader Narendra Patil, who had recently migrated to BJP leaving NCP, has evinced desire to contest from Satara requesting the Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray to vacate its claim there.

In Palghar, Shiv Sena had taken on BJP in the by election held last year in which the party nominee and son of BJP MP late Chintamani Wanga, Shrinivas Wanga had lost to BJP nominee Rajendra Gavit who was inducted by the latter from the Congress party. However, Shiv Sena at the time of seat sharing arrangement with BJP had insisted that it will field its nominee in Palghar. Congress party has left the seat for Bahujan Vikas Aghadi led by legislator Hitendra Thakur.

Shiv Sena minister Subhash Desai said the party will announce on Sunday its nominees for Satara and Palghar. As per the alliance, BJP will contest 25 leaving 23 to Shiv Sena of the 48 seats.

Shiv Sena's other nominees include Arvind Sawant against Congress Nominee Milind Deora in South Mumbai, Rahul Shewale against Congress candidate Eknath Gaikwad in South Central Mumbai, Gajanan Kirtikar in North Central Mumbai, Rajan Vichare against NCP nominee Anand Paranjpe in Thane, Shrikant Shinde against NCP nominee Babaji Patil in Kalyan, Hemant Godse against NCP nominee Samir Bhujbal in Nashik, Sadashiv Lokhande against Congress nominee Bhausaheb Kamble in Shirdi, Shivajiro Adhalrao Patil against NCP nominee Amol Kolhe in Shirur, Shrirang Barne against NCP nominee Parth Pawar in Maval, Chandrakant Khaire in Aurangabad, Prataprao Jadhav in Buldhana, Anandrao Adsul against Congress-NCP supported independent Navneet Kaur Rana in Amravati, Bhavna Gawli against Congress nominee Manikrao Thakre in Yavatmal, Anant Geete against NCP nominee Sunil Tatkare in Raigad, and Vinayak Raut in Sindhudurg Ratnagiri.