In the Maharashtra assembly elections, 7994 candidates had their nominations validated. The final day for withdrawal is today, November 4. Even on the withdrawal day, talk continues about the tough-fight seats due to independent candidates sharing the same name, shaking the confidence of political leaders. On some seats, there are up to three independent candidates with the same name. Let's delve into some of these intriguing electoral contests that have heightened the political stakes.
Parvati Seat
In the Parvati constituency in Pune district, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the Mahayuti alliance has nominated Madhuri Misal, while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) front has fielded Ashwini Kadam. This hotly contested seat also sees three independent candidates named Ashwini Kadam.
Indapur Seat
In the Indapur assembly seat of Pune district too, the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar has fielded Dattatray Bharne, while Sharad Pawar’s NCP fields Harshvardhan Patil. Two other leaders named Harshvardhan Patil are also contesting as independents here, alongside an independent named Dattatray Bharne.
Vadgaon Sheri
At the Vadgaon Sheri assembly seat in Pune, NCP’s candidate, sitting MLA Sunil Tingare, is contested by NCP (SP) candidate Bapusahib Tukaram Pathare. Additionally, Bapu Baban Pathare has filed his nomination. The NCP (SP) candidate even demanded the rejection of his namesake independent candidate’s nomination from Ahelynagari district, yet this was not realized.
Dapoli Seat
In Dapoli assembly seat of Ratnagiri district, two Shiv Sena factions clash. Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has ticketed Yogesh Kadam, while Uddhav Thackeray's faction from UBTS supports Sanjay Kadam. Adding intrigue, two independents with names Yogesh Kadam and Sanjay Kadam vie here.
Koregaon Seat
In Koregaon assembly seat, Satara, Mahesh Sambhaji Raje Shinde of Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena battles it out against NCP (SP) candidate Shashikant Shinde. Here, three independents named Mahesh enter the fray including Mahesh Madhav Shinde and Mahesh Sakharam Shinde, alongside Mahesh Madhav Kamble.
Muktainagar
In Muktainagar of Jalgaon district, it’s Shiv Sena (Shinde) candidate Chandrakant Patil versus NCP candidate Rohini Eknath Khadase. Independents Rohini Pandit Khadase and Rohini Gokul Khadase add to the scene though neither hails from Jalgaon—one’s from Washim and the other Akola. Two independents here bear the name Chandrakant Patil as well.
Karat-Jamkhed
In Karat-Jamkhed of Ahmednagar, it’s BJP’s Ram Shinde versus NCP (SP)’s Rohit Pawar. From Sharad Pawar’s kin, Rohit’s candidacy highlights the hot seat of Karat-Jamkhed, seeing two fellow independents named Ram Shinde and Rohit Pawar.
Tasgaon-Kavathe Mahankal
In Sangli district’s Tasgaon-Kavathe Mahankal, two NCP factions face off with NCP (AP) fielding Sanjay Kaka Patil and NCP (SP) nominating Rohit Patil. Three independents named Rohit Patil contest here, including independent Sanjay Patil.
Islampur Seat
In the Islampur seat of Sangli, NCP (AP) fields Nishikant Patil while NCP (SP) nominates Jayant Patil. The election sees independent candidates with the names Nishikant Patil and Jayant Patil.
