MUMBAI: Four-time Shiv Sena MP Mohan Rawale would contest elections from Mumbai South while former Union Power Minister Suresh Prabhu would contest from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg and close aide of the Thackeray family, Gajanan Kirtikar would be fielded from Mumbai North West.

Their names figure in the list of 15 candidates announced by Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray. Of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, Sena would contest 22 and BJP 26 as per their pre-poll arrangement. The BJP had already declared their candidates in 11 constituencies and with Thursday’s announcement – the total number of candidates declared by the Sena-BJP saffron alliance now stands at 26.

Rawale earlier represented the Mumbai South Central constituency, but because of delimitation he has been shifted to neighbouring Mumbai South, where the sitting MP is Milind Deora, the son of veteran Congressman and Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora. On the other hand, Kirtikar who has a good following in the western suburbs has been made candidate from Mumbai North West. Suresh Gambhir has been asked to contest from Mumbai South Central. Of the six seats in Mumbai, the remaining three will be contested by the BJP.

Prabhu, a moderate face of the Sena and a chartered accountant by profession, has been asked to contest from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg. He earlier represented Rajapur and had in the past defeated veteran socialist and former Finance Minister late Madhu Dandawate. Anant Geete, the sitting MP from Ratnagiri, will stand from Raigad constituency.

The other candidates announced include: Prataprao Jadhav (Buldhana), Anandrao Adsul (Amravati-SC), Bhavana Gawli (Yavatmal-Washim), Subhash Wankhede (Hingoli), Ganesh Dudhgaonkar (Parbhani), Chandrakant Khaire (Aurangabad), Dattaji Gaikwad (Nashik), Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil (Shirur), Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi-SC) and Prof Ravi Gaikwad (Osmanabad).

While a majority of the Sena’s sitting MPs have been re-nominated, a significant change is Ganesh Dudhgaonkar, who replaces Tukaram Renge-Patil, who became infamous for not voting during the non-confidence motion against the UPA Government last year.

In the 2004 elections, the Sena had bagged 12 seats while alliance partner BJP had bagged 13 seats. The second list of candidates by the saffron alliance shall be announced after a few days.