Snub to BJP? Sena fields two candidates for MLC polls

The Shiv Sena today announced two candidates for the Nashik and Raigad-Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg local authorities constituencies for the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, scheduled to be held next month.

A total of six local authorities constituencies would go to polls on May 21.

The move is viewed as a snub to the overtures of the BJP, which heads the NDA government in Maharashtra, for a pre-poll alliance.

Sticking to its announcement earlier this year that the party would contest all future elections solo without any alliance, the Sena announced the names of Narendra Darade and Rajeev Sable for Nashik and Raigad-Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituencies, respectively.

The BJP had recently announced the names of two candidates for the elections to Nashik and Konkan division Teachers constituencies, likely to be held in June-July this year.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on April 20 had announced the poll schedule for the six local authorities constituencies in the state.

The six local authorities constituencies going to polls are: Raigad-Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, Nashik, Wardha-Chandrapur-Gadchiroli, Parbhani-Hingoli, Amravati, and Osmanabad-Latur-Beed