AAP names 10 candidates in Maharashtra; to take on big politicians

MUMBAI: An actor-director, a senior architect in Microsoft, a former IITian, socialists and social workers are all part of the AAP’s list of 10 candidates declared from Maharashtra who would be taking on big names in the state. Nandu Madhav, famous for directing the controversial play, Shivaji Underground in Bhimnagar Mohalla, will take on BJP leader Gopinath Munde at Beed. Madhav, however, is on a weak ground as he does not much local support.

Madhav could, however, hope Gopinath’s estranged nephew Dhananjay Munde, who has crossed over to the NCP, would help bring down his uncle’s victory margin significantly. Prashant Mishra, a senior Architect (Consultant) with Microsoft, will take on NCP leader Praful Patel in Bhandara-Gondhia constituency. He left his Rs 1.37 cr per annum job in the United Stated to join the Anna Hazare movement in support of the Jan Lok Pal bill. He later joined Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP.

Reacting to his candidature, Mishra said, “I have two daughters and my family was totally against me joining politics. This is a battle between David and Goliath, and like the story we would be able to bring down Patel,” said Mishra. Dileep Mhaske has also come from the US to join the AAP’s fight against corruption. Mhaske, a former IITian, has been given a ticket from Jalna where he would take on Raosaheb Danve of the BJP. Mhaske heads the Foundation for Human Horizon.

Union Minister of state for coal, Pratik Patil will be facing a lawyer, Sameena Abdul Wajid Khan, an expert in labour and industrial disputes, in the Sangli constituency.

Lalit Babar who was the President of the erstwhile Janata Dal in Mumbai before it splintered in to numerous parties, has been given a ticket from Solapur. He will take on Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.