Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released its first list of candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections.

The list is headlined by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has been nominated from the prestigious Nagpur South West constituency. This announcement marks the beginning of the party's campaign, with other prominent leaders also securing nominations in key constituencies across the state.

Chandrashekhar Bawankule, a significant figure within the party, has been fielded from Kamthi, while Meghna Bordikar will represent Jintur. In Dhule City, Anup Agarwal has been selected as the party's candidate, and in Bhokardan, Santosh Danve has been given the ticket. Ram Kadam, a notable party leader, will contest from Ghatkopar.

The first list highlights BJP’s strategy to field experienced leaders as well as emerging faces in critical constituencies. It also reflects the party’s focus on key regions, balancing the representation between urban strongholds and rural areas.

Here is a breakdown of the major candidates and their constituencies:

• Devendra Fadnavis (Nagpur South West): Fadnavis, the sitting MLA and Deputy Chief Minister, is one of BJP’s most high-profile leaders in Maharashtra. His nomination from Nagpur South West comes as no surprise given his stronghold in the region.

• Chandrashekhar Bawankule (Kamthi): A veteran in Maharashtra politics, Bawankule’s nomination reaffirms his significance within the party, particularly in the Vidarbha region.

• Meghna Bordikar (Jintur): A newer face in the political landscape, Bordikar’s nomination from Jintur highlights BJP’s intent to bring fresh leadership into the assembly.

• Anup Agarwal (Dhule City): Agarwal is expected to strengthen BJP’s hold in the northern parts of the state, with his nomination reflecting the party’s confidence in securing urban votes.

• Ram Kadam (Ghatkopar): Known for his prominence in Mumbai politics, Kadam is a key player for BJP in the Ghatkopar constituency.

• Other notable names include Ganesh Naik (Airoli), Ravindra Chavan (Dombivli), Nitesh Rane (Kankavli), Mangal Prabhat Lodha (Malabar Hill), Shankarrao Jagtap (Pimpri-Chinchwad), Girish Mahajan (Jamner), Bunty Bagaidia (Chimur), and Vijaykumar Gavit (Nandurbar).