Lok Sabha Polls: Nitin Gadkari, Supriya Sule — Know Top 5 Candidates In High-Stakes Maharashtra

Maharashtra, with 48 Lok Sabha seats, is a key state for the election outcome. Notable candidates include Nitin Gadkari (Nagpur), Piyush Goyal (Mumbai North), Supriya Sule (Baramati), Ujjwal Nikam (Mumbai North-Central), and Shrikant Shinde (Kalyan).

Lok Sabha Election Results 2024: With 48 seats, Maharashtra stands as the second most crucial state after Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha elections. Historically, the state has played a pivotal role in the BJP's electoral success, contributing significantly to the party's majority in the past two general elections. The elections in Maharashtra were conducted in five phases to elect 48 members of Parliament. Here’s a look at the top five candidates whose battles are being closely watched.

Nitin Gadkari: Defending the Nagpur Bastion

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, representing the BJP, is defending his seat in Nagpur, a BJP stronghold that has seen intense electoral battles. Gadkari, who first contested and won the Nagpur seat in 2014 by defeating seven-time Congress MP Vilas Muttemwar, retained it in 2019 by defeating Congress's Nana Patole. This year, Gadkari is up against Congress candidate Vikas Thakre, aiming for a third consecutive term in the Lok Sabha.

Piyush Goyal: Electoral Debut

Union Minister Piyush Goyal is making his electoral debut from Mumbai North, facing actor-politician Bhushan Patil of the Congress. Historically a Congress stronghold, Mumbai North has seen figures like VK Krishna Menon contest from it. Goyal is in a direct fight with Patil, who emphasises his local roots as a "bhoomi putra". The election in this constituency took place on May 20.

Supriya Sule: A Family Feud in Baramati

In Baramati, the NCP-SP's Supriya Sule is engaged in a high-stakes battle against her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar. Supriya Sule, a three-time MP and daughter of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, is facing a formidable challenge from Sunetra, the wife of Ajit Pawar, who recently aligned with the BJP-led NDA. This election marks a significant intra-family contest, with Supriya Sule having previously solidified her hold over Baramati in the 2019 elections by securing 6,86,714 votes against the BJP's Kanchan Rahul Kul. The constituency went to polls in the third phase on May 7, with vote counting set for June 4.

Ujjwal Nikam: Prosecutor's Surprise Entry

The BJP's choice of Ujjwal Nikam, a seasoned prosecutor, from Mumbai North-Central came as a surprise, replacing two-time MP Poonam Mahajan. Known for prosecuting high-profile cases like the 1993 Mumbai blasts and the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Nikam is up against Varsha Gaikwad, the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) president. Gaikwad, from an Ambedkarite-Buddhist family, is a grassroots leader with deep local roots. Her father, Eknath Gaikwad, was a former MP and Mumbai Congress president.

Shrikant Shinde: CM Eknath Shinde’s Son Faces Sena UBT in Kalyan

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has fielded his son, Shrikant Shinde, in the Kalyan Lok Sabha seat. Shinde, an orthopaedic surgeon-turned-politician, is contesting for his third term. However, this time he faces stiff competition from former corporator Vaishali Darekar-Rane of Shiv Sena UBT. Shrikant Shinde first won this seat in 2014 and was re-elected in 2019, but this time he must prove himself in a direct faceoff with Sena UBT. Vaishali Darekar-Rane is a two-term ex-corporator of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC). She won her first polls in 2000 as a candidate of the undivided Shiv Sena.

These key battles in Maharashtra are set to significantly influence the overall outcome of the Lok Sabha elections on June 4.