Nagpur: Congress on Saturday announced its second and third lists of 27 candidates for the assembly elections, with nominees on crucial Vidarbha seats being a mix of experienced leaders and fresh faces. Released after protracted negotiations within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, this lists reveal Congress's focus on challenging BJP in key constituencies while reinforcing its base.
Girish Pandav is the Congress candidate from Nagpur South, one of the most closely watched seats in Vidarbha. He had lost to BJP's Mohan Mate by a mere 4,000 votes in 2019. Shiv Sena (UBT) had staked claim to this seat but made way for Congress here after bagging the Ramtek seat.
In another major decision, Congress confirmed Anuja Kedar as its candidate for Saoner, quelling speculations that arose after her name wasn't included in the first list. Anuja, wife of senior Congress leader Sunil Kedar and daughter of former Maharashtra assembly speaker Sheshrao Wankhede, belongs a political lineage which Congress hopes will secure strong support.
Suresh Bhoyar, former president of Nagpur Zilla Parishad, was nominated to challenge Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule in Kamptee. Bhoyar, who lost by around 11,000 votes in 2019 to Tekchand Sawarkar, now hopes to capitalise on anti-incumbency in a constituency previously held by Bawankule.
A notable first is nomination of Pooja Thavkar in the reserved Bhandara constituency. Thavkar, former sarpanch of Bela, is a close ally of Congress state president Nana Patole. With Thavkar's candidacy, Congress's would be looking to appeal to voters looking for fresh local leadership and increase its female representation.
In Gondia district's Arjuni Morgaon constituency, Congress nominated former NCP MLA Dalip Bansod. His main rival here would be former BJP minister Rajkumar Badole, who recently switched to NCP. Bansod's nomination reflects Congress's broader strategy of balancing veteran politicians with candidates having regional influence. From Arni in Yavatmal district, former MPCC president Shivajirao Moghe's son Jitendra is the party candidate.
Veteran Congress leader Vasant Purke will contest from Ralegaon in Yavatmal, aiming to regain a seat he held four times previously. In 2019, he narrowly lost to BJP's Ashok Uike by just over 2,000 votes, a result he hopes to overturn with renewed voter support.
Former MPCC president Manikrao Thakre would be contesting from Yavatmal's Digras from where Sena (Shinde) has fielded sitting MLA Sanjay Rathod.
Other key candidates include Swati Wakekar (Jalgaon-Jamod), Mahesh Gange (Akot), Shekhar Shende (Wardha), Rajkumar Puram (Amgaon), Dilipkumar Sananda from Khamgaon, Hemant Chimote from Melghat (ST) and Manohar Poreti from Gadchiroli (ST). Shekhar Shende, nominated for Wardha, has been a two-time runner-up in close races with BJP's Pankaj Bhoyar.