Notwithstanding the seat-sharing pact between Congress and NCP for the Legislative Council elections slated for December 27, rebels from both parties filed their nominations against official candidates on the last day of filing of papers today.
Out of eight seats in total for grabs, the Congress is contesting 4 and the NCP 3.
In saffron camp, the Shiv Sena is contesting 3 seats, while the BJP 5 -- which include extending support to 2 independent candidates.
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NCP rebel Prasad Lad today filed his papers for Mumbai seat against Congress' Bhai Jagtap while former Congress MLA Jayant Sasane filed his nomination as an independent against NCP's Arun Jagtap in Ahmednagar. Former Congress MLA Dilip Mane filed his papers as an independent in Solapur against NCP's Deepak Salunke.
Apart from fielding Salunke and Jagtap, both sitting MLCs in Solapur and Ahmednagar respectively, the NCP has given nomination to Ravi Sakpal in Akola-Washim-Buldhana local self-government body.
Meanwhile, Congress has fielded former minister Satej Patil in Kolhapur in place of its sitting MLC Mahadev Mahadik, who is contesting as an independent supported by BJP, while retaining Amrish Patel in Dhule-Nandurbar. The party has fielded Ashok Singh Chauhan in Nagpur.
In Sena camp, Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam and sitting MLC Gopikishan Bajoria filed their nomination papers from Mumbai and Akola-Washim-Buldhana seats, respectively while Shashikant Gade in Ahmednagar.
In Nagpur, BJP has fielded Girish Vyas, believed to be a close aide of Union minister Nitin Gadkari, and Manoj Kotak, the BJP group leader in the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), from Mumbai while Gopal Kele is the party nominee in Dhule-Nandurbar.
In Solapur, the BJP is supporting NCP rebel Prashant Paricharak who is contesting as an independent candidate.
The eight MLCs in the biennial elections are to be elected from local self-government bodies constituency. The seats are: Nagpur, Akola-Washim-Buldhana (both in Vidarbha), Solapur, Kolhapur (western Maharashtra), Ahmednagar, Dhule-Nandurbar in North Maharashtra and two seats in Mumbai.
The outgoing members are Rajendra Mulak, Gopikisan Bajoriya, Deepak Salunke, Mahadeo Mahadik, Arin Jagtap, Amrish Patel, Ramdas Kadam and Bhai Jagtap, respectively.
