Pune: In preparation for the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its second list of candidates today (October 26), adding 22 more names to its previous list of 99.

BJP has chosen to retain its established candidates for Pune's key constituencies, including Khadakwasla, Cantonment, and Kasba Peth.

Bhimrao Tapkir and Sunil Kamble, both sitting MLAs, will once again represent BJP in the Khadakwasla and Cantonment constituencies, respectively.

In Kasba, BJP has selected Hemant Rasane, despite his loss in a recent by-election. Rasane’s extensive development work and organizational strengthening efforts post-election, alongside high rankings in BJP’s internal surveys, reportedly contributed to his candidacy.

Although other party members, such as Pune BJP president Dheeraj Ghate and Kunal Tilak, showed interest in contesting the Kasba seat, Rasane emerged as the party's choice.

Observers suggest that his local contributions and public support in Kasba bolstered his profile.

The full list of BJP candidates from Pune is as follows:

• Khadakwasla: Bhimrao Tapkir

• Cantonment: Sunil Kamble

• Kasba: Hemant Rasane

• Kothrud: Chandrakant Patil

• Parvati: Madhuri Misal

• Shivajinagar: Siddharth Shirole

Chandrakant Patil, Madhuri Misal and Siddharth Shirole have retained their assembly seats and will contest the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 from these constituencies.

Shankar Jagtap has been fielded from Chinchwad, Mahesh Landge from Bhosari, Rahul Kul from Daund assembly constituency.

The names were declared in the first list released by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday (October 20). The list is headlined by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has been nominated from the prestigious Nagpur South West constituency.