Mumbai: A total of 78 new faces will enter the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, making up about 27% of its 288 seats. Among these, 33 are from the BJP, 14 from the Shiv Sena, and 8 from the NCP. The Shiv Sena (UBT) will have 10 newcomers, while the Congress and NCP (SP) will send 6 and 4 new MLAs, respectively. Two debutants are from smaller parties, and one independent candidate will also join the assembly.
The first-time lawmakers will play a crucial role, especially in Mumbai, where 9 out of 36 seats were secured by debutants. Notable among them are Mahesh Sawant from Shiv Sena (UBT), who defeated MNS leader Raj Thackeray’s son, Amit Thackeray, and sitting Shiv Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar in Mahim. Varun Desai also triumphed in Vandre East, defeating Zeeshan Siddique of NCP.
Other prominent first-time winners include Manoj Jamsutkar (Byculla), Anant Nar (Jogeshwari East), and Haroon Khan (Versova) from Shiv Sena (UBT). From the BJP, Sanjay Upadhyay won in Borivali, while Murji Patel took Andheri East after contesting on a Shiv Sena ticket. Sana Malik, who won Anushaktinagar on an NCP ticket, and Congress candidate Jyoti Gaikwad, victorious in Dharavi, are also among the first-time winners.
Shreejaya Chavan, daughter of former Congress CM Ashok Chavan, who recently joined the BJP, emerged victorious from Bhokar. Another debutant, Vikram Pachpute, son of former NCP minister Babanrao Pachpute, claimed victory in Shrigonda on a BJP ticket.
Atul Bhosale, who triumphed over former CM Prithviraj Chavan in Karad South, is another first-time MLA. Bhosale is the son-in-law of Congress leader Dilip Deshmukh.
Sumit Wankhede, personal assistant to senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, won from Arvi, marking his debut as an MLA. Other debutants include Suhas Babar, son of former Shiv Sena MLA Anil Babar, and Vilas Bhumre, son of MP Sandipan Bhumre, both securing wins in Khanapur and Paithan, respectively. Amol Patil, son of ex-MLA Chimanrao Patil, also won from Erandol.
In the November 20 Maharashtra elections, the ruling Mahayuti alliance, consisting of BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena, secured a landslide victory, winning 230 of the 288 seats. On the other hand, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), fared poorly, winning just 16, 20, and 10 seats, respectively.
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