Maharashtra Polls: 17 BJP leaders join allies as ‘imported’ candidates for elections

The BJP has prominently influenced the Mahayuti alliance by providing 17 candidates to its allied parties. Twelve BJP members joined the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde to secure tickets, four joined the NCP led by Ajit Pawar, and one candidate from the RPI quota will contest under the BJP's symbol.

Although the BJP is officially contesting 152 seats, if these "transferred" candidates are included, the total rises to 179. This move signifies the BJP's strong influence on seat distribution, reflecting on the need for both Sena and NCP to rely on BJP candidates due to a shortage of their own. Key BJP figures in Mumbai and the MMR have found accommodation in the Sena and received assembly tickets.

Former BJP corporator Murji Patel joined the Sena and was announced as the candidate for Andheri (East). Shaina NC from the BJP received a Sena ticket for Mumbadevi, positioning her against Congress's Amin Patel. Other BJP members like Santosh Shetty, Sanjana Jadhav, Nilesh Rane, and Vilas Tare also received assembly tickets after joining the Sena.

The NCP accepted BJP candidates Rajkumar Badole, Pratap Patil-Chikhlikar, Nishikant Patil, and Sanjaykaka Patel, who secured poll tickets. Political analysts noted, "17 BJP exports getting tickets shows allies didn't have enough candidates or BJP didn't trust their candidates to win. So BJP deputed their own candidates instead."

For the RPI, Amarjeet Singh, a BJP member, is contesting a seat in Mumbai under the BJP's lotus symbol.