BJP names three candidates for Maharashtra MLC polls; media baron's wife on the ruling party list

Mumbai: The BJP on Sunday announced three candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, fielding Dr Smita Jadhav, wife of Pudhari Group chairman and editor Yogesh Jadhav, from the Pune Division Graduates constituency.

A release issued by the BJP central office in New Delhi said Sudhakar Vitthalrao Kohle has been fielded from Nagpur Division Graduates constituency and Kaustubh Muralidhar Gawde from Pune Division Teachers constituency.

Kohle, a former MLA, is known to be close to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and is also CEO of Shri Swami Vivekanand Shikshan Sanstha.


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Smita Jadhav serves as director of Pudhari Publications.

"Although Jadhav's nomination has been announced, she has not yet joined the BJP. She will officially join this evening in Pune," said a party functionary.

Biennial elections are being held for Pune Division Graduates, Nagpur Division Graduates, Pune Division Teachers, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates and Amravati Teachers constituencies. Polling will take place on October 23 and votes will be counted on October 27.

The ruling Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party of Sunetra Pawar, has finalised a 3:1:1 seat-sharing formula.

Under it, the BJP will contest three seats, while the NCP and Shiv Sena field candidates of one seat each.