Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, his predecessor and state unit chief R R Patil and senior ministers Ajit Pawar and Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil figure in the first list of 80 candidates announced by the Nationalist Congress Party for the state assembly elections scheduled to be held on October 13.
The Sharad Pawar-led party, which has been a part of the ruling alliance with Congress in the state for the last 10 years, is contesting 114 of the total 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra while the Congress is contesting the remaining 174 seats. The seat-sharing arrangement was formally announced in Delhi late on Tuesday night.
Bhujbal would be contesting from Yevla in Nashik district from where he won the 2004 assembly elections. NCP's state unit chief R R Patil is contesting from Tasgaon-Kavthe Mahankal in Sangli district.
Ajit Pawar is seeking re-election from Baramati while Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil has been fielded by the party from Pandharpur in Solapur district.
NCP has also given a ticket to minister of state Rana Jagjitsinh Patil, son of senior NCP leader Padmasinh Patil, who is in jail in connection with the murder of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar.
