Finally, Maha Vikas Aghadi constituents arrived at an understanding for Nagpur South seat from where Congress’ Girish Pandav has been declared as the candidate. Names of Girish Pandav, Vishal Muttemwar and Nitin Kumbhalkar were doing the rounds for the seat. Congress, on Saturday, released its second and third lists of candidates for the State Assembly elections. The party’s lists of 41 has several new faces, including sitting MLAs. Out of 41, 17 candidates are from Vidarbha, a region where Congress is hopeful of making significant impact. Shiv Sena (UBT) had demanded Nagpur South seat. Somehow Congress High Command prevailed and the seat went into its bag. Congress leader Sunil Kedar’s wife Anuja is also named in the second list. Anuja Kedar had already submitted her nomination on Thursday, October 24 for Saoner constituency without waiting for AB form from the party. Since Kedar was convicted and his membership to the Assembly became invalid, he is not allowed to contest.

 

Former minister Vasant Purke will contest from his traditional Ralegaon seat. Jitendra Moghe, son of senior party leader and ex-Minister Shivajirao Moghe, also figures in the second list of Congress as a candidate of Arni (ST) seat. Despite his loss in Kamptee constituency in 2019 polls, party has kept faith in Suresh Bhoyar, who will take on BJP state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule. Shekhar Shende is fielded from Wardha. Wardha Congress has expressed displeasure over the candidature of Shende as Dr Sachin Pawade and Dr Uday Meghe had staked claimed on this seat. According to the party workers, new faces should have been given the chance. The other candidates include Puja Thavkar from Bhandara (reserved for SC), Dalip Bansod from Arjuni Morgaon (reserved for SC), Rajkumar Puram from Amgaon (reserved for ST), Anil Mangulkar from Yavatmal, Mahesh Gangane from Akot, Dr Swati Wakekar from Jalgaon (Jamod) and Sahebrao Kamble (Umerkhed).