Maharashtra: BJP Nominates Ashok Chavan for Rajya Sabha Polls: Congress Names Chandrakant Handore

The BJP has nominated veteran politician Ashok Chavan, who switched over from the Congress to the BJP, as party’s candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls from Maharashtra. The two other BJP candidates are Medha Kulkarni, a former MLA and Dr Ajeet Gopchade, a former RSS pracharak and BJP leader.

The Congress has nominated Chandrakant Handore, a former Mumbai mayor.

On the other hand, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP are yet to announce their candidates officially.

Six Rajya Sabha members Narayan Rane, Prakash Javadekar and V Muraleedharan, all three from BJP, Kumar Ketkar from Congress, Anil Desai Shiv Sena and Vandana Chavan of NCP are retiring in April and polls to fill the vacancies are being held in February.

According to the Election Commision, the last date of filing of nominations is 15 February and polling, if needed, would be held on 27 February.

Meanwhile, Ashok Chavan has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President J.P. Nadda, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, State BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule and the entire party for Rajya Sabha nomination. He said that the party has entrusted upon him great responsibility with huge faith. He also assured that he will make an honest effort to make it worth.