A total of 54 candidates have filed their nominations for the upcoming elections to the Mumbai Teachers, Mumbai Graduates, and Konkan Division Graduates Legislative Council Constituencies of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, scheduled for June 26. The deadline for withdrawing nominations is June 12.

The highest number of nominations were submitted for the Konkan Division Graduates constituency, with 26 candidates, followed by 17 candidates for the Mumbai Teachers constituency and 11 for the Mumbai Graduates constituency. Among these, 42 are independent candidates.

Key Contenders

In the Konkan Division Graduates constituency, notable candidates include Amit Saraiyya from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (Sharad Pawar faction) and incumbent MLA Niranjan Davkhare from the BJP. The withdrawal of Abhijit Panse from the MNS has set up a direct contest between Saraiyya and Davkhare. Other prominent candidates include Kishore Jain from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) and Ramesh Kir from Congress, suggesting a fractured alliance. Decisions on withdrawals will be made by June 12.

For the Mumbai Teachers constituency, key candidates are Adv. Anil Vijaya Dattatray Parab from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) and Kiran Ravindra Shelar from the BJP. The Mumbai Graduates constituency features a contest between Jagannath Motiram Abhyankar from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) and Shivaji Vishnu Nalavde from the NCP.

Konkan Division Graduate Constituency:

- Amit Jaisingh Sairaya (NCP - Sharad Pawar)

- Kishore Otermal Jain (Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)

- Ramesh Kir (Congress)

- Numerous independent candidates, including Amol Anant Pawar, Asma Navad Chikhalekar, and others.

Mumbai Graduate Constituency:

- Adv. Anil Vijaya Dattatray Parab (Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)

- Kiran Ravindra Shelar (BJP)

- Various independent candidates, including Yogesh Balakdas Gajbhiye and Dr. Deepak Ramchandra Sawant.

Mumbai Teachers Constituency:

- Jagannath Motiram Abhyankar (Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)

- Shivaji Vishnu Nalavde (NCP)

- A range of independent candidates, such as Subhash Kisan More and Tanaji Keshav Kamble.

The final list of candidates will be confirmed after the withdrawal deadline on June 12.