With the BJP and Shiv Sena sounding the poll bugle from Vidarbha, Sena announced the first few candidates at a rally in Amravati on Friday. Both Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray were present at the time the first four candidates were announced. The four candidates are Bhavna Gawli (Washim), Anandrao Adsul (Amravati), Prataprao Jadhav (Buldhana) and Krupal Tumane (Ramtek).
Meanwhile, in a meeting between the two party leaders at Matoshree, the residence of Thackeray, the parties were unable to resolve the deadlock over Jalna seat. Thackeray met Sena legislator Arjun Khotkar and BJP’s Pankaja Munde over the deadlock between BJP state president Raosaheb Danve and Khotkar. Khotkar has shown interest in contesting from Jalna and had said he left the final decision to his party chief. BJP leaders have been trying to appease Khotkar and convince him to allow Danve to be the alliance candidate.