Lok Sabha elections 2019: Congress names candidates for Shirdi, Dhule and Mumbai seats

MUMBAI: Congress on Wednesday nominated Eknath Gaikwad from Mumbai South Central, Navin Bandivadekar from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, K C Padavi from Nandurbar, Kunal Patil from Dhule , Charulata Tokas from Wardha, former state unit chief Manikrao Thakre from Yavatmal-Washim and Bhausaheb Kamble from Shirdi.

Gaikwad lost the 2014 LS elections to Shiv Sena nominee Rahul Shewale by a huge margin. Kunal Patil, currently MLA from Dhule, is the son of veteran Congress leader and former minister Rohidas Patil, while Tokas is the daughter of former MPCC president Prabha Rau .

News of Congress announcing the name of Bandivadekar evoked protests from activists, who said he was linked with the hardline, right-wing Sanatan Sanstha, whose members are accused of plotting the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar . Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant refuted the allegations, saying they were baseless.

Former Union minister and octogenarian tribal Congress leader, Manikrao Gavit, joined the list of party veterans who failed to secure nomination for their kin. He was vying for a candidature for his son, Bharat, from the reserved seat of Nandurbar in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.

Although Gavit could not be contacted, Bharat admitted to TOI that he is crestfallen at the denial. "But I have taken in my stride and will work for Padavi, who is an able candidate," added Bharat.

Padavi confirmed that he had received a call from Gavit senior on Wednesday after he got the party ticket. "I will soon meet him to seek his blessing to win the Nandurbar seat, which has been the traditional bastion of the Congress," he said, adding that migration of tribal people, education and unemployment would be his poll plank.