NCP releases first list for Maharashtra polls, Ajit Pawar to contest from Baramati

The Nationalist Congress Party on Wednesday released its first list of 38 candidates for the Maharashtra Assembly polls with Deputy Chief Minister and party chief Ajit Pawar contesting from the Baramati seat.
Baramati, in Maharashtra’s Pune district, has been a stronghold of the Pawar family, with Ajit Pawar representing it from 1993. In the 2019 Assembly polls, Ajit Pawar defeated his BJP rival by a record margin of over 1,65,000 votes.
According to sources, Baramati may witness a ‘Pawar vs Pawar’ battle in the coming Assembly polls with NCP (SP) leader Yugendra Pawar contesting against Minister Ajit Pawar.
The NCP, in its first list, has shown confidence in 26 sitting MLAs, including ministers who sided with Ajit Pawar, when he led a political revolt against his uncle Sharad Pawar and joined the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra.
Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly Narhari Zirwal has been fielded from Dindori and state cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal from Yeola.
NCP leaders Sulbha Khodke from Amravati and Hiraman Khoskar from Igatpuri, who switched over from the Congress recently, have also been given tickets in the Assembly polls.
Polls for the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly will be held on November 20, and votes will be counted on November 23. The term of the current assembly will end on November 26.